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I  B  RAR.Y 

OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


Sa^^s 


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UNIVERSITY    OF    ILLINOIS    LIBRARY    AT    URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


;m  3  (T19J1 " 


L161— O-1096 


SOUVENIR 


OF  THE 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


OF 


ST.  BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


INCLUDING 

AN  HISTORICAL  SKETCH 

1837-1912 


Compiled  from  the  Famous    "Kircfaengeschichte    Quincy's."  by 
Father  Brnener,  urn  well  as  from  Original  Documents,  in 
the   Form    of    Entries    in   the    Church    Records, 
Minutes  of  Various  Societies,  News- 
paper Clippings,  Etc. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 

JUL  I  91922 


JOST  &  KIEFER  PRINTING  COMPANY, 
QOINCY   ILLINOIS. 


POPE  PIUS  X. 


0 
ou 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 

DEDICATION. 



To  those  sturdy  German  settlers, 

Founders  of  St.  Boniface, 
Do  we  dedicate  this  booklet, 
cv2  We,  who  now  are  in  their  place. . 

They  were  giants  in  their  labors, 

Men  who  knew  no  idle  fear, 
Men  who  plodded  ever  onward, 
A2  'Till  the  far-off  goal  was  near. 

Most  of  them  have  since  departed 

To  the  realms  of  peace  and  rest, 

But  their  deeds  are  still  before  us, 
Urging  us  fco  do  our  best. 

Urging  us  to  work  as  they  did, 

God  to  serve,  our  soul  to  save, 

Bidding  us  to  ne'er  grow  weary, 

Till  we  rest  beyond  the  grave. 

They  have  erred  at  times,  most  sadly, 
Erred,  as  mortals  all  may  err, 

Let  us  profit  by  their  failings, 
That  they  never  may  recur. 

But  their  faults  are  like  the  shadow®, 

Cast  about  by  every  light, 
Cast  most  deeply  where  its  splendor, 

Sheds  itself  with  greatest  might. 

Lights  and  shadows  are  reflected 
In  the  pages  offered  here, 

Let  the  shadows  only  render 

Every  highlight  doubly  clear! 

Looking  o'er  this  booklet's  pages 

You  may  scent  some  "midnight  oil," 

And  we  can  not  help  confess  it, 
'Tis  the  fruit  of  endless  toil. 

In  our  labors  we  were  aided 

By  the  help  of  many  friends, 

And  to  them  belongs  a  portion 

Of  the  glory  which  it  spends. 

Now  to  critics  of  this  booklet, 

Who  perhaps  don't  like  its  looks, 

Or  its  contents,  let  us  answer, 

With   the  famous  bard,   "Mike  Fuche": 

"Wer's  Buch  gleiche  dut,  soil's  lese, 
Wen  es  jucke  dut,  soil  lache, 

Wer's  nicht  gleiche  dut,  soil's  eenfach 

Liege  lasse  und  soil's  besser  mache!" 

THE  AUTHOR. 


RT.  REV.  JAMES  RYAN,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  AKon. 

Horn  17th,  1S48:  ordained  Priest  Dec.  24,  1871  ;  consecrated  Third  Bishop  of  Alton  1888 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


Diamond  Jubilee  Celebration. 

St.  Boniface  Congregation,  Quiucy.  111. 


Sunday,   Monday   and  Tuesday,   Oct.    13,    14 
and  15,  1912. 


GENERAL  PROGRAM. 
Sunday,  October  13th. 


6:00  A.M. — First  Mass  and  General  Communion  for  all  the  Members 
of  the  Parish. 

8:00  A.M. — Second  Mass  with  English  Sermon,  and  General  Com- 
munion as  above. 

10:00  A.M. — Solemn  Pontifical  High  Mass,  with  Rt.  Rev.  John  Janssen, 
Bishop  of  Belleville  and  former  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
as  Celebrant;  with  Sermon  by  Rev.  Timothy  Magnien, 
O.  F.  M.,  of  St.  Francis  Solanus  College. 

3:00  P.M. — Solemn  Vespers  and  Benediction. 

8:00  P.M. — Grand  Entertainment  in  the  School  Hall  by  the  Various 
Organizations  of  the  Parish. 

Monday,  October  14th   (Children's  Day). 

7:30  A.M. — Low  Masis  and  Rosary  Devotion. 

9:00   A.M. — Solemn  High  Mass,  with  Singing  by  the  Children's  Choir. 

10:00  A.M. — Games  and  Contests  for  the  Children  in  the  Course  of 
which  Refreshments  will  be  served. 

1:00  P.M. — Trolley  Party  for  the  Children. 

7:45  P.M. — Spectacular  Entertainment  by  the  Children  in  the  School 
Hall. 

Tuesday,  October  15th. 

7:30  A.M. — Low  Mass  and  Rosary  Devotion  as  on  the  Day  before. 
9:00  A.M. — Solemn  Requiem  Mass  for  the  Deceased  of  the  Parish. 

6:00  P.M. — Complimentary  Dinner  for  all  Adults  of  the  Parish, 
served  in  three  Relays. 

8:00  P.M. — Grand  Pyrotechnical  Display  in  the  School  Yard,  under 
the  expert  Management  of  Messrs.  Fred  Wessels,  John 
Myers  and  John  Rummenie,  during  which  the  Columbia 
Concert  Band  will  furnish  Music. 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Special  Program, 


Sunday,  Evening,  Oct.  13th. 

Grand  Entertainment  by  the  Various  Organizations  of  the  Parish 


=•1 


1.     Selection  from  "The  Prince  of  Pilsen" Luders 

Columbia  Orchestra. 

a.  "Festival  Song" Walter 

b.  "Moonlight  will  Come  Again"   Thompson 

St.  Boniface  Choir. 

3.  Comedietta  in  One  Act:   "A  Game  of  Cards."   

Columbia  Dramatic  Club 

Cast  of  Characters. 

Baron  Von  Nix John  A.  Ohnemus 

Gustav,  His  Son Frank  Hellmer 

Mr.  Geldmann,  a  Retired  Merchant Will  Hellhake 

Rosa,  His  Daughter Miss  Rose  Weltin 

The  action  of  the  play  takes  place  in  Berlin,  in  the  parlor  of  Mr. 
Geldmann. 

4.  Overture — "Ni-phrata" Hazel 

Columbia  Orchestra. 

5.  Spectacular  Drill — "The  Revel  of  the  Naiads" 

Given  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Louis  A.  LaVoie  by  the  fol- 
lowing representatives  of  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodality: 
Miss  Margaret  Freiburg,  Miss  Sylvia  Ording, 

Miss  Florence  Heidemann,  Miss  Genevieve  Granacher, 

Miss  Agnes  Wolf,  Miss  Florence  Wiskirchen, 

Miss  Irma  Triebel,  Miss  Bessie  Dean. 

Miss  Leona  Vandenboom. 

Accompanied  by  Miss  Coletta  Jochem,  Piano.    Messrs.   Paul  and 
Richard  Huck,  Violin. 

6.  Monologue — "Reminiscences  of  Uncle  Rube".  .   Joseph  J.  Fischer 

7.  Reverie — "The  Protecting  Spirits  of  St.  Boniface." 

Argument. 

At  the  sound  of  distant  chimes,  Memory,  asleep  in  her  bower, 
awakes  and  recalls  the  past  of  the  St.  Boniface  Parish,  referring  to 
the  Protecting  Spirits  sent  by  God  to  guide  its  destinies  from  the  day 
of  its  Foundation  in  1837  to  its  Diamond  Jubilee  in  1912.  The  scene 
is  changed  and  reveals  these  Heavenly  Spirits  watching  over  various 
groups  of  their  charges,  representative  of  the  children,  the  young  men, 
the  young  ladies,  the  married  men  and  the  married  ladies  respectively, 
and  commenting  on  their  protecting  influence  exercised  over  those  com- 
mitted to  their  care. 

Cast  of  Characters. 

Memory Miss  Ada  Freiburg 

Angel  of  the  Children Miss  Helen  Kaessen 

Angel  of  the  Young  Men Miss  Genevieve  Kohl 

Angel  of  the  Young  Ladies Miss  Mildred  Timmerwilke 

Angel  of  the  Married  Men Miss  Augusta  Heidemann 

Angel  of  the  Married  Ladies Miss  Edith  Hilgenbrink 

Angel  of  1837 Miss  Emma  Schwendemann 

Angel  of  1912 Miss  Helen  Koch 

8.  March — "The  Stars  and  Stripes  Forever"   Souea 

Columbia  Orchestra. 


— 

tt 

- 

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i 
- 

(2 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


Monday  Evening,  Oct.  14th. 

Spectacular  Entertainment  by  the  Children. 

Mn*ir  by  the  Columbia  Oreheatra.     Piano  Accompaniment 
by  Misa  Dorothy  Rehm. 


1.  March — "The  Officer  of  the  Day" Hall 

2.  Chorus — "Willkommen" Grade  VI. 

3.  Recitation — "Spruch  der  Kleinen" Grade  I. 

4.  Waltz — "My  Beautiful  Lady" Caryil 

5.  Drill — "Fairies  from  Diamond  Land" Grades  II.  and  III. 

6.  Chorus:  "Again  I  Hear  My  Mother  Sing"  .  .  Grades  VII.  and  VIII. 

7.  Barcarolle  from  "Tales  of  Hoffmann"    

8.  Drill — "Hidden  Gems" Grades  IV.  and  V. 

9.  Waltz — "Evening  Star" Moses-Tobani 

10.  Playlet  in  Two  Acts — "The  Wrong  Box".  .Grades  VII.  and  VIII. 

Synopsis. 

Alethea  Roberts,  student  at  Madam  Primly's  Seminary,  receives  a 
message  from  home  that  a  box  is  being  sent  to  her,  containing  her 
winter  outfit  and  some  "goodies."  Word  is  passed  around  among  the 
girls  to  gather  in  her  room,  No.  12,  top  dormitory,  for  a  feast  and 
general  skylark  after 'the  lights  are  out  at  10  P.  M.  Sara,  the  maid,  is  in 
league  and  sympathy  with  the  girls.  When  the  box  arrives  Madam  is 
out,  so  the  treat  is  smuggled  into  Alethea's  room  and  she  promises  not 
to  open  the  box  until  the  clan  has  gathered  at  10  P.  M, 

Cast  of  Characters. 

Madam  Primly Marie  Jansen 

Alethea  Roberts Odelia  Freiburg 

Julia  Cavandish    Hortense  Kohl 

Harriet  Rankin Mary  Timpe 

Vera  Garland    Edith  Boesing 

Grace  Monroe Verna  Koetters 

Maude  Farner Regina  Weisenhorn 

Louise  Johnson Florence  Zang 

Rhoda  Remington    Julia  Seifert 

Ruby  Figgen Margaret  Musholt 

Marion  Woods   • Magdalen  Jansen 

Mildred  Fox Florence  Thiemann 

Pearl  Winters Ruth  Dehner 

Sara  O'Brien Helen  Benning 

(     a.     March — "The  Bell  Boy"   Ashton 

11  \     b.     Selection — "Meet  Me  Where  the  Lanterns  Glow" Klein 

12.  Recitation — "The  Thank  You  Band" Grades  IV.  and  V. 

13.  March — "Hands  Across  the  Sea" Sousa 

Columbia  Orchestra. 


GOVERNOR  JOHN  WOOD,  the  Founder  of  Quinoy. 

Born  Dec.  20th,  1798;  settled  on  present  site  of  Quincy  1821;  became  State  Senator  in 
1850,  lieutenant-Governor  in  1856,  Governor  in  1859.  I,eft  with  a  regiment  for  the  seat  of 
war  in  1864,  after  having  fought  already  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  of  1832.  Died  June  4.  1880. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

St.  Boniface  Congregation,  Quincy,  111. 

From   Its    Founding    in    1837    Until    Its    Diamond 
Jubilee  in  1912. 


Preliminary  Events. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  on  the  present  site  of  Quincy 
was  made  by  John  Wood  in  the  year  1821,  when  he  came  to  take 
possession  of  the  lands  allotted  to  him  for  his  services  in  the  war 
of  1812.  Little  did  he  dream  at  the  time  that  he  was  laying  the 
foundation  of  a  great  and  prosperous  city,  a  city  of  many 
flourishing  industries,  a  city  of  commercial  enterprise,  a 
Gibraltar  in  the  world  of  finance,  a  vast  domain  of  parks  and 
gardens,  a  realm  of  beautiful  homes,  a  center  of  efficient  schools 
and  colleges,  the  seat  of  magnificent  churches  and  charitable 
institutions,  the  Gem  City  of  the  West.  It  was  named  after 
Quincy  Adams,  then  president  of  the  United  States,  from  whom 
also  the  county  in-which  it  is  situated  derives  its  name.  In  182G 
was  built  the  first  court  house,  a  two-story  log  cabin  measuring 
18x22  feet.  In  1829  Michael  Mast  (born  1797,  died  1852)  the 
first  German  Catholic  settler,  arrived  in  Quincy,  and  in  1834  we 
find  him  among  the  trustees  who  signed  the  application  for  the 
incorporation  of  their  settlement,  consisting  of  about  600  souls 
living  mainly  along  the  river  front  and  around  the  site  now  occu- 
pied by  Washington  Park. 

Soon  other  Catholics  began  to  arrive,  and  in  1833  their  num- 
ber was  sufficient  to  warrant  the  zealous  Father  Peter  Paul 
Lefevre  (born  1804,  died  1869)  in  charge  of  the  Catholic  settle- 
ments of  Missouri,  Illinois  and  Iowa,  also  to  come  to  Quincy  to 
provide  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  its  people.  This  indefatigable 
missionary,  later  Bishop  of  Detroit,  was  most  likely  the  first 
Catholic  priest  to  set  foot  in  our  city,  and  the  First  Mass  was  said 
in  the  home  of  Adam  Schmitt,  which  stood  on  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  Klene's  cigar  store,  127  S.  4th  St.  In  1834  the  Catho- 
lics of  Quincy,  then  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Bishop  Rosati  of  St. 
Louis,  made  application  for  a  resident  priest,  but  their  request 
could  not  be  granted.  In  1836  the  Catholic  population  had 
grown  to  40  or  50  families,  who  held  a  meeting  at  which  they 


10 


appointed  five  "trustees"  to  raise  funds  for  the  purpose  of  build- 
ing a  church.  On  June  12th,  1837,  Father  John  Irenaeus  St.  Cyr 
was  ordered  by  Bishop  Rosati  to  leave  his  mission  at  Chicago 
and  take  up  his  residence  at  Quincy  and  assume  charge  of  the 
entire  surrounding  district;  but  whilst  he  was  stopping  over  at 
St.  Louis,  there  arrived  from  Hanover,  Germany,  Father  August 
Florentius  Brickwedde,  who  placed  himself  at  the  disposal  of  the 
bishop  with  the  result,  that  the  jurisdiction  of  the  former  was 
limited  to  the  English  speaking  Catholics  of  that  territory  with 
the  city  of  St.  Augustine,  then  in  Fulton  county,  as  its  center, 
whilst  the  latter  was  to  provide  for  the  German  element  and  take 
up  his  headquarters  in  Quincy.  And  so  it  comes  that  Father 
Brickwedde  must  be  regarded  as  the  first  resident  priest  of  the 
Gem  City  and  the  first  pastor  of  the  oldest  German  Catholic 
parish  along  the  entire  Mississippi  River. 

ACTIVITIES  OF  FATHER  BRICKWEDDE. 

The   Founder  oi  St.  Boniface. 

Aug.  15th,  1837— March  16th,  1849. 


The  first  entry  of  Father  Brickwedde  in  the  parish  records  is 
dated  August  15th,  1837,  but  it  is  probable  that  he  arrived  in 
Quincy  about  a  week  before.  He  took  up  his  residence  with 
Adam  Schmitt,  already  mentioned  under  Father  Lefevre,  who 
had  just  moved  his  residence  from  Fourth  street  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  Eleventh  and  Broadway  (retaining  only  his  car- 
penter shop  in  a  rear  building  at  the  old  place),  and  the  second 
story  of  this  new  house  was  converted  into  a  chapel 
which  was  dedicated  August  15th,  under  the  title  of  the 
"Ascension  of  Christ,"  and  this  district  became  very 
appropriately  known  as  "Bethlehem."  This  chapel  was  soon 
found  to  be  too  small,  and  in  his  first  account  to  the  bishop, 
dated  Jan.  2nd,  1838,  Father  Brickwedde  speaks  of  building 
a  new  church,  for  which  a  site  had  already  been  donated  by  John 
Wood,  located  on  Seventh,  between  York  and  Kentucky  and 
opposite  the  present  St.  John's  Lutheran  church.  However  the 
parish  was  still  too  poor  for  such  an  undertaking,  and  so  our 
good  pastor  out  of  his  own  means  builds  a  frame  structure  18x28 
feet,  just  north  of  the  property  in  question,  which  is  dedicated  on 
Pentecost,  1838,  and  is  the  first  Catholic  church  in  Quincy.  To 
the  rear  of  this  "church"  he  added  several  small  rooms  which 


Pioneers  of  Quincy. 


Daniel   M  «,<>il 
Son  of  Governor  John  M^ood 

The  First  White  Child  Born  in  Quincy, 
February  9th,;i829 


Mrs.  Louisa  Schroer 
Mother  of  Duke  Schroer,  City  Clerk 

The  First  German  Catholic  Born  in  Quincy, 
March  21st,  1835. 


Cwple  Married  at^t$omface  Church 


Born  Aug.  4,  1819.     Died  March  5,  1903.  Born  May  11,  1811.     Died  Jan.  28.  1891. 

Married  Jail.  22,  1S3S.     Celebrated  Golden  Wedding  Jan.  22,  1888. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION U 

were  utilized  for  school  and  parsonage.  The  hill  upon  which  this 
building  stood  was  popularly  known  as  "Mt.  Olivet." 

In  September  of  the  same  year  Father  Brickwedde  enter- 
tains an  interesting  visitor  in  the  person  of  Father  Benjamin 
Mary  Petit  (born  April  8th,  1811,  died  Feb.  10th,  1839),  who, 
with  800  Pottawatomie  Indians  (mostly  Catholics)  ordered  by 
the  government  to  leave  their  homes  around  South  Bend,  In- 
diana, and  settle  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  stops  over  at 
Quincy,  where  his  charges  are  royally  entertained  and  edify  their 
hosts  by  their  good  Christian  behavior. 

On  April  22nd,  1839,  our  pioneer  pastor  publishes  his  second 
annual  account,  which  is  the  first  one  still  extant,  and  in  which 
he  states  that  the  number  of  German  Catholics  at  Quincy  is  241, 
to  about  50  only  of  English  tongue,  that  his  school  is  attended  by 
14  boys  and  10  girls,  that  he  attends  an  outside  mission  on 
Sugar  Creek,  Lee  county,  Iowa,  of  62  German  Catholics,  who 
have  offered  to  give  six  acres  of  good  ground  for  a  church  and 
parsonage  and  are  very  anxious  to  have  a  resident  priest ;  also 
that  in  Quincy  a  site  100x100  feet  on  Eighth  and  Maine  streets 
has  been  donated  by  a  certain  Mr.  Widney  for  a  new  brick 
church,  and  that  $90.00  are  on  hand  to  begin  to  build.  But  it  had 
been  otherwise  decreed;  for  when  in  May  of  the  same  year 
Father  Tucker  succeeded  Father  St.  Cyr  on  account  of  failing 
health  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Quincy,  the  property  donated 
by  Mr.  Widney  was  placed  at  his  disposal  for  a  church  for  the 
English  speaking  Catholics,  and  the  Germans  were  without  a 
site.  True  it  is  a  place  had  been  donated  in  1838  by  John  Wood, 
as  stated  above,  but  because  it  was  in  such  close  proximity  to 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  also  because  a  more  centrally  located 
spot  was  desirable,  this  property,  with  the  consent  of  its  donor, 
had  been  sold  the  same  year.  On  June  17th,  1839,  however,  a 
new  piece  of  ground  was  bought  of  Archibald  and  Robert  Wil- 
liams, located  in  lot  8  of  Wheelock's  Addition,  block  No.  6,  be- 
ginning 40  feet  south  of  the  northeast  corner  of  that  lot,  then 
extending  40  feet  south  on  Seventh  street,  then  90  feet  west, 
then  40  feet  north,  then  90  feet  east  to  the  point  of  start.  To  this 
was  added,  Aug.  21st,  1841,  another  strip  of  8  feet  front  with  90 
feet  depth  immediately  south,  the  two  pieces  together  compris- 
ing the  site  now  occupied  by  the  sanctuary  and  sacristies.  In 
the  deed  conveying  this  property,  which  was  not  drawn  up  until 
Feb.  20th,  1846,  there  is  inserted  a  clause  to  the  effect  that  the 


12  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


same  shall  be  used  exclusively  for  the  German  Catholic  Congre- 
gation of  Quincy. 

Early  in  1839  Father  Tucker  began  to  build  his  church. 
Soon  after  Father  Brickwedde  followed,  and  already  before  the 
summer  was  over,  the  walls  of  the  new  structure  were  completed. 
Most  of  the  brick  had  been  donated;  likewise  the  greater  part 
of  the  labor.  When  lack  of  funds  and  the  lateness  of  the  season 
compelled  a  discontinuance  of  the  work,  Father  Brickwedde  set 
out  on  a  collection  tour  through  the  South,  going  as  far  as  New 
Orleans,  where  he  obtained,  among  other  things,  an  old  steam- 
boat bell  for  his  church,  and  the  absence  of  entries  in  the 
church  records  from  Nov.  20th  until  March  18th  may  serve  to 
indicate  the  time  and  extent  of  his  trip.  The  result  was  very  sat- 
isfactory, and  after  his  return  the  work  was  resumed  with  new 
zeal,  under  the  supervision  of  the  pastor  himself.  The  church 
was  completed  that  same  year;  but  when  it  was  dedicated,  if 
dedicated  at  all,  can  not  be  ascertained.  It  stood  with  its  front 
on  Seventh  street,  and  measured  about  60x32  feet.  The  tower, 
through  which  passed  the  main  entrance  in  front  of  the  church, 
was  never  completed,  because  it  was  soon  realized  that  eventu- 
ally a  still  larger  church  would  have  to  be  built.  Three  large 
Romanesque  windows  graced  each  side  of  the  building,  whilst  a 
Gothic  window  was  conspicuous  above  the  portal  in  the  tower. 
To  the  rear  of  this  church  a  large  sacristy  was  built  of  frame, 
which  also  served  as  school. 

About  the  same  time  that  the  new  brick  church  was  com- 
pleted, the  work  on  the  new  parsonage,  which  Father  Brick- 
wedde was  building  of  his  own  resources,  was  coming  to  a  close. 
This  parsonage,  a  two-story  brick  structure  of  very  small  dimen- 
sions, was  situated  on  the  property  likewise  belonging  to  the 
pastor  himself  and  beginning  5  feet  west  of  the  south-east  corner 
of  lot  7,  block  6,  of  Wheelock's  Addition  on  the  north  side  of 
Maine  street,  extending  north  100  feet,  then  west  5  feet,  then 
north  88  feet  to  the  alley,  then  west  20  feet,  then  south  188  feet, 
then  east  25  feet  to  the  starting  point.  Lot  and  house  were  later 
(March  llth,  1851)  conveyed  for  $700  to  Bishop  Van  de  Velde 
of  Chicago,  at  that  time  exercising  jurisdiction  over  Quincy. 

In  1841  the  first  Catholic  cemetery,  located  between  Eight- 
eenth and  Twentieth  streets  and  Maine  and  Hampshire  streets, 
with  100  feet  front  on  the  latter,  was  bought  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  Redmond  for  $400.00,  though  a  deed  for  the  transfer  was 


Oldest  Living  Member  of  St.  Boniface. 


Mrs.  Paiitaleon  Sohm,  nee  Rosina  Specht. 

Bom  June  5th,   1825,  at  Forchheim.  Baden  ;  arrived  in  Quiiicy  July,  1834. 
Married  by  Father  Brickwedde  Aug.  10,  1840  ;  mother  of  Edward,  Sr,,  and  John 
Sohm,  of  this  city.     Has  11  living  grand  and  7  great  grand-children. 


_ ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION  13 

not  drawn  up,  likely  on  account  of  lack  of  ready  cash,  until 
Aug.  7th,  1849,  and  recorded  Aug.  29th. 

In  1842  Rt.  Rev.  Peter  Richard  Kenrick,    consecrated    co- 
adjutor bishop  of  St.  Louis,  Nov.  30th    of   the    previous  year, 
comes  to  Quincy  to  administer,  for  the  first  time  in  its  history, 
the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation. 

Realizing,  even  before  its  completion,  that  the  new  church 
would  soon  be  too  small  for  the  rapidly  rising  congregation, 
Father  Brickwedde  was  awaiting  his  opportunity  to  acquire 
more  extensive  property,  and  on  July  26th,  1843,  he  bought  of  a 
certain  Andrew  Johnston  for  $500.00  another  part  of  lot  8,  be- 
ginning at  its  southeast  corner,  then  running  west  80  feet  on 
the  north  side  of  Maine  street,  then  north  100  feet,  as  far  as  the 
site  already  owned  by  the  church,  then  east  80  feet  then  south 
100  feet  to  the  point  of  start,  which  is  the  ground  whereon  stands 
the  present  church  with  the  exception  of  the  sanctuary  and  the 
sacristies.  On  May  14th  of  the  same  year  was  convened  the 
First  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore,  and  as  it  was  expected  that, 
at  the  request  of  the  assembled  bishops,  the  State  of  Illinois 
would  be  taken  from  the  joint  jurisdiction  of  St.  Louis  and 
Vincennes  and  erected  into  a  separate  diocese,  the  title  to  this 
property  was  in  the  meantime  secured  by  a  bond,  and  it  was 
only  on  Aug.  6th,  1844,  that  a  deed  for  the  same  was  drawn  up 
in  the  name  of  Rt.  Rev.  Wm.  Quarter,  who  on  May  10th  of  that 
year  had  been  consecrated  bishop  of  the  new  see  with  head- 
quarters at  Chicago. 

In  April,  1845,  was  organized  the  "St.  Boniface  Benevolent 
Society,"  which  is  the  oldest  society  of  the  parish  on  record, 
though  it  is  very  probable  that  St.  Elizabeth  Ladies'  Society  ex- 
isted already  five  years  prior.  The  first  election  of  officers  held 
on  May  4th,  resulted  as  follows :  G.  Joseph  Laage,  Pres. ;  Joseph 
Brockschmidt,  Vice-Pres. ;  Anton  Lampe,  Secretary,  and  Ber- 
nard Koch,  Treasurer. 

About  this  same  time  was  engaged  in  the  person  of  Ferdi- 
nand Cramer,  the  first  lay  teacher  to  take  charge  of  the  parochial 
school,  Father  Brickwedde  himself  having  conducted  the  school 
until  that  time ;  though  it  is  claimed  by  some  that  a  certain  Mr. 
Gessner  held  class  as  early  as  1842.  Mr.  Cramer  held  the  posi- 
tion until  1849  when  a  certain  Mr.  Thiele  succeeds  him. 

In  May,  1845,  we  find  our  zealous  pastor  setting  out  on  an- 
other collection  trip,  this  time  crossing  the  Atlantic  and  passing 


14  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


through  Amsterdam,  Osnabrueck,  Muenster,  Cologne,  Aix-La- 
Chapelle,  Koblenz,  Mayence,  Mannheim,  Stuttgart,  Ulm,  Augs- 
burg, Munich,  Eichstaedt,  Ratisbon,  Vienna,  and  Lyons.  He 
returned  in  February,  1846,  well  satisfied  with  the  result  of  his 
canvass,  and  bringing  with  him  as  donations  not  only  money, 
but  also  various  articles,  such  as  vestments,  a  small  organ, 
(played  first  by  Thomas  Kamp,  organist  of  the  church  April 
12th,  1846-Feb.  2nd,  1848)  and  last,  but  not  least  the  beautiful 
oil-painting  representing  the  Saviour  of  the  World,  afterwards 
placed  over  the  main  altar  of  the  church  and  now  seen  above  the 
entrance  to  the  baptistry. 

On  Nov.  4th  of  this  year  a  deed  was  drawn  up  in  the  name 
of  Bishop  Quarter  through  which  the  parish  acquired  another 
piece  of  property  located  in  lot  7  block  6  of  Wheelock's  Addition, 
and  beginning  with  the  south-east  corner  of  lot  7,  then  running 
west  5  feet,  then  north  100  feet,  then  east  5  feet,  then  south  100 
feet  to  the  point  of  start,  which  narrow  strip  now  joined  the 
property  of  Father  Brickwedde  to  that  of  the  church.  It  was 
bought  from  the  same  Andrew  Johnston,  executor  for  Robert 
Williams,  for  a  consideration  of  $50.00. 

In  the  fall  of  that  same  year  preparations  were  already  begun 
for  building  a  new  brick  church  which  would  be  large  enough 
for  all  times  to  come  and  was  to  measure  100x64  feet,  with  front 
on  Maine  street.  Father  Brickwedde  was  the  architect,  and 
every  member  of  the  parish  was  to  help  along  with  contributions 
of  either  money  or  days  of  work,  of  which  until  May  1848,  as 
many  as  1,758  had  been  subscribed.  By  the  end  of  January  1847, 
201  loads  of  sand  had  been  hauled  to  the  site.  An  agreement  was 
reached  with  John  Adell,  proprietor  of  a  brick-yard,  in  virtue  of 
which,  for  the  consideration  of  $50.00,  he  was  to  allow  the  use  of 
all  his  implements  for  the  manufacture  of  200,000  bricks,  the 
hauling  to  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  $1.25  a  day.  The  total  expense 
for  these  bricks  was  therefore  about  41  cents  per  thousand,  the 
others,  which  had  to  be  bought,  involving  an  outlay  of  $3.00  per 
thousand.  Stone  was  purchased  at  the  rate  of  31-40  cents  per 
square  foot.  Actual  building  was  begun  either  late  that  winter 
or  early  next  spring,  and  on  May  26th,  1847,  the  corner-stone 
was  laid  by  Bishop  Quarter,  who  also  preached  the  sermon  for 
the  occasion,  choosing  for  his  subject  the  Sacrifice  of  Mass. 

About  this  time  was  organized  St.  Philomena's  Young  La- 
dies' Society,  as  is  evidenced  by  an  old  moth-eaten  banner,  ac- 


Historic  Mansions 


The  Home  of  Governor  Wood. 

Built  in  1835  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Twelfth  and  State  streets,  from  where  it  was 
moved  by  the  Quincy  Historical  Society,  to  its  present  site,  on  the  east  side  of  Twelfth,  be- 
tween State  and  Ohio  streets,  and  is  now  known  as  the  "Quincy  Historical  Building-." 


The   "  Ki  i»\v  ii  inu  House" 
St.  Boniface  School  in  the  Rear. 

Erected  by  Orville  H.  Browning  about  the  year  1S45.  Headquarters  of 
Abraham  l,incoln  Oct.  13,  1858,  the  day  of  the  famous  debate  with  Doug-las. 
Sold  to  St.  Boniface  Congregation  Feb.  1,  1873.  Destroyed  by  fire  Jan.  1,  1904 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 15 

cidentally  discovered  by  Father  Bruener,  bearing  the  inscrip- 
tion: "St.  Philomena's  Jungfrauenverein,  gegruendet  1847."  But 
all  the  records  for  the  first  25  years  of  its  existence  have  been 
lost,  and  neither  the  names  of  officers  or  members  can  be  ascer- 
tained, nor  is  the  object  of  the  society  clearly  known,  though  it 
is  very  probable  that  it  was  to  serve  a  purpose  similar  to  that  of 
the  Ladies'  Society,  which  was  to  provide  for  the  proper  fitting 
out  of  the  church  and  parsonage. 

Before  the  end  of  the  year  the  new  church  was  under  roof, 
and  late  the  following  spring  it  was  completed,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  tower  which  it  was  not  intended  to  finish  just  then ; 
so  that  on  June  llth,  1848,  which  was  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  the 
first  service  could  take  place.  Within  a  few  months,  wonderful 
to  state,  the  entire  debt  thereon  had  been  paid,  except  the  sum 
of  $1,500.00,  due  to  a  certain  wealthy  gardener  by  the  name  of 
Aschermann,  who  gave  a  written  guaranty  that  he  would  never 
cause  any  trouble  no  matter  how  long  his  money  stood  out;  and 
so  it  became  possible,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Church,  that 
on  Oct.  22nd  of  the  same  year  the  stately  edifice  could  be 
solemnly  consecrated;  which  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Archbishop  Kenrick  of  St.  Louis  (which  had  been  raised  to  the 
dignity  of  an  archdiocese  on  July  20th,  1847),  the  see  of  Chicago 
having  become  vacant  through  the  death  of  Bishop  Quarter, 
April  10th,  1848.  It  is  in  the  course  of  this  year  that  the  parish, 
hitherto  known  under  the  title  of  the  "Ascension  of  Christ,"  is 
first  designated  in  the  church  records  at  "St.  Boniface  Parish." 

Thus  far  the  prospects  of  the  parish  seemed  very  bright. 
But  now  comes  a  dark  page  in  its  history  which  we  would  rather 
tear  from  its  context,  were  it  not  for  the  double  fact  that,  whilst 
it  must  be  left  to  give  a  true  account  of  the  past,  it  may  also 
serve  as  a  useful  warning  for  all  future  times.  For  some  time 
already  a  certain  element  had  shown  dissatisfaction  with  their 
pastor,  and  now,  when  they  realized  that  he  would  continue  to 
carry  out  his  plans,  in  spite  of  them,  they  began  to  offer  open 
defiance,  going  so  far  as  to  bring  false  charges  against  his  char- 
acter, to  molest  him  in  every  possible  way,  and  even  to  threaten 
his  life.  On  March  14th,  1849,  Bishop  Van  de  Velde,  conse- 
crated Feb.  llth  of  the  same  year  to  succeed  Bishop  Quarter, 
came  to  Quincy  to  administer  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation, 
and  after  a  thorough  investigation  ascended  the  pulpit  and  pro- 
nounced Father  Brickwedde  innocent,  and  when  in  consequence 
a  turmoil  was  raised  in  the  very  precincts  of  the  church,  he 


16  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


placed  the  parish  under  interdict  and  ordered  Father  Brickwedde 
to  leave  his  ungrateful  flock,  which  he  did  on  March  IGth. 

The  punishment  of  Kim  who  says  "touch  not  my  an- 
nointed"  soon  came  to  evidence  in  the  form  of  a  terrible  epi- 
demic of  the  cholera,  which  broke  out  in  Quincy  the  very  next 
day,  March  17th,  and  which  in  the  first  six  months  claimed  186 
victims  and,  with  a  short  respite  during  the  winter  months,  con- 
tinued to  rage  for  more  than  five  years.  To  enable  the  faithful 
members  of  the  parish  to  perform  their  Easter  duty,  the  Jesuit 
Father  Peter  Spicher  of  St.  Louis,  is  sent  to  Quincy,  but  he  re- 
mains here  only  from  the  6th  to  the  18th  of  April.  A  delegation 
is  sent  to  Bishop  Van  de  Velde,  who  was  just  then  visiting  with 
Archbishop  Kenrick  of  St.  Louis,  with  a  petition  to  send  a  priest  to 
stay  in  Quincy  to  take  care  of  the  many  sick  and  dying,  with  the 
result  that  the  Jesuit  Father  John  Schultz,  then  pastor  of  the 
Holy  Family  Church  in  Kahoka,  is  sent  along  with  them,  who 
remains  about  three  months,  August  7th-October  17th,  until  the 
epidemic  has  abated  for  that  year.  On  August  12th,  the  first 
Sunday  after  his  arrival,  Bishop  Van  de  Velde  himself  comes  to 
Quincy,  not,  however,  to  administer  Confirmation,  but  to  hold 
up  once  more  to  the  members  of  the  parish  the  great  wrong  they 
had  done  to  Father  Brickwedde  and  the  terrible  punishment 
which  was,  no  doubt,  the  result.  His  words,  however,  are  only 
the  occasion  of  a  new  outburst  of  feeling  on  the  part  of  the  re- 
bellious parishioners,  whom  he  compares  to  a  lot  of  wild  beasts, 
and  so  St.  Boniface  still  remains  without  a  permanent  pastor. 
When  the  cholera  breaks  out  anew  in  the  spring  of  1850  another 
delegation  is  sent,  this  time  to  Archbishop  Kenrick,  the  veteran 
friend  of  the  parish,  and  Father  Joseph  Kuenster,  who  had  just 
left  Teutopolis  on  account  of  similar  disturbances  and  was  then 
in  St.  Louis,  is  sent  to  try  his  lot  with  the  people  of  St.  Boniface, 
and  thus  becomes  their  second  permanent  pastor. 

LABORS  OF  FATHER  KUENSTER, 

The  Restorer  of  St.  Boniface. 

Au$.  15th,  185O— Sept.  15th,  1857. 


Father  Joseph  Kuenster,  whose  first  entry  in  the  church 
books  is  dated  August  15th,  1850,  began  his  pastorate  in  Quincy 
with  a  devotion  to  the  victims  of  the  cholera  that  was  nothing 
short  of  heroic  and  soon  won  for  him  the  hearts  of  all  his  sub- 


First  Priest  in  Quincy 


IS  i .  Rev.  Peter  Paul  Lefevre. 


Born  in  Belgium  in  1804 ;  came  to  this  country  in  1828  in  order  to 
devote  himself  to  the  missions  ;  was  ordained  priest  at  the  Seminary 
in  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri,  for  the  diocese  of  St.  Louis,  under 
Bishop  Rosati ;  was  first  stationed,  in  1832,  at  New  Madrid.  Missouri; 
later,  in  1833,  at  St,  Paul  on  the  Salt  River,  Rails  Co..  15  miles  north- 
west of  New  London,  from  where  he  visited  the  entire  northern 
Missouri,  southern  Iowa  and  middle  Illinois,  making  frequent  stops 
at  Quincy.  for  which  he  showed  a  special  solicitude.  Was  conse- 
crated Bishop  of  Detroit  Nov.  22,  1841,  in  which  capacity  he  showed 
the  same  zeal,  until  he  was  called  to  his  reward  March  4th,  1869. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 17 

jects.  Ofttimes  for  weeks  he  would  not  lay  aside  his  clothes, 
in  order  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  notice  to  come  to  the  aid  of 
a  troubled  soul  that  had  to  be  prepared  for  eternity  and  was  anx- 
iously awaiting  him. 

In  the  fall  of  1851  the  illustrious  Father  Weninger,  styled 
"The  Apostle  of  the  German  Catholics  of  America,"  was  called 
upon  to  hold  a  mission  at  St.  Boniface,  which  lasted  from  Nov. 
17th-24th,  and  during  which  over  1,400  people  received  the  sacra- 
ments, and  the  last  vestiges  of  the  unfortunate  disturbance's  in 
the  parish  were  wiped  out.  On  Nov.  30th  a  meeting  was  called 
by  Father  Kuenster,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  missionary  that  an  orphan  society  be  organized,  to 
provide  for  the  many  children  left  parentless  through  the  rav- 
ages of  the  cholera,  and  the  result  of  this  meeting  was  the  "St. 
Aloysius  Orphan  Society  of  St.  Boniface  Congregation,  Quincy, 
111." 

In  this  year  we  find  as  teacher  at  St.  Boniface  a  certain 
Anton  Stutte  who  left  again  in  April,  1856,  just  four  weeks  later 
than  his  assistant,  George  Mexal,  who  had  come  in  1853. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1852  Contractor  Lichtendahl  was  en- 
gaged to  complete  the  tower  of  the  church,  which  was  to  rise 
180  feet  above  the  roof  and  to  be  surrounded  at  a  point  about 
half-way,  by  a  gallery,  each  corner  of  which  was  to  be  set  off 
with  a  smaller  turret  9  feet  high.  The  entire  work  was  to  cost 
$4,000.00  and  to  be  completed  in  August.  Almost  simultaneously 
a  contract  was  signed  with  the  firm  of  George  L.  Hanks  of  Cin- 
cinnati, to  furnish  three  bells  for  the  tower,  the  largest  to  be 
pitched  in  D,  the  medium  one  in  F,  and  the  smallest  in  A.  With 
permission  of  the  bishop  these  bells  were  consecrated  by  Father 
Kuenster  himself  on  Sunday,  Dec.  19th,  after  which  they  were 
immediately  hoisted  to  their  places,  from  where  they  pealed  forth 
their  joyous  notes  for  the  first  time  to  announce  a  "Merry 
Christmas."  These  are.  the  same 
of  St.  Bonifa 

however,  having  been  recast,  on  account  of  a  crack,  in  1900) 
and  though  many  rivals  have  appeared  on  the  scene  since  then, 
they  are  still  regarded  by  many  as  the  finest,  sweetest-toned 
bells  in  the  city.  Only  two  years  more,  and  the  sacred  precincts 
of  St.  Boniface  Church  resound  with  the  enchanting  strains  of  a 
magnificent  pipe-organ,  which  was  completed  late  in  1854  and 
\vas  played  for  the  first  time  again  on  Christmas  Day.  This 


18  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


organ  was  made  up  of  21  speaking  registers,  distributed  over  a 
double  manual  and  pedal,  and  was  considered  by  all  con- 
noisseurs of  the  times  who  came  from  far  and  wide  to  see  it,  a 
masterpiece. 

On  January  27th,  1856,  was  organized  the  "St.  Joseph  Young 
Men's  Society, "though  from  a  letter  of  Father  Brickwedde,  dated 
Oct.  17th,  1848,  it  becomes  clear  that  some  kind  of  organization 
of  young  men,  likely  in  the  nature  of  a  sodality,  must  have  ex- 
isted even  before  then.  The  object  of  the  newly  founded  society 
seems  to  have  been  the  social  and  intellectual  as  well  as  the 
moral  and  religious  advancement  of  its  members,  to  which  was 
added  the  feature  of  sick  benefit  in  1859.  The  first  election  of 
officers  brought  the  following  results:  President,  Francis  Jo- 
seph Niemoeller ;  Vice-President,  Henry  Laake ;  Secretary,  Her- 
man Tenk ;  Treasurer,  John  H.  Brockschmidt. 

In  the  beginning  of  1857,  the  first  assistant  priest  was  sent 
to  St.  Boniface  in  the  person  of  Father  Carl  Raphael,  of  whom 
however  the  only  record  is  contained  in  the  minutes  of  Febru- 
ary and  March  of  St.  Boniface  Society  and  St.  Aloysius  Orphan 
Society. 

In  this  year,  also,  the  first  school  building  that  could  be 
called  such,  was  erected,  classes  having  hitherto  been  taught 
first  in  the  residence  of  Adam  Schmitt  on  Eleventh  and  Broad- 
way, then  in  Father  Brickwedde's  house  on  Seventh,  between 
York  and  Kentucky,  next  in  a  little  frame  addition  in  the  rear 
of  the  first  brick  church,  and  finally  in  that  church  itself.  The  site 
selected  for  the  new  building  was  the  one  to  the 
west  of  the  church,  whereon  stood  the  parsonage.  This  building 
had  to  be  torn  down,  and  Father  Kuenster  rented  for  his  own 
use  the  house  No.  16  South  Seventh  street.  The  pastor  was  not 
in  favor  of  this  site  for  a  school  on  account  of  its  narrow  front, 
but  he  had  to  carry  out  the  bishop's  instructions.  The  new  school 
building,  which  was  erected  between  the  months  of  August  and 
December,  measured  28x56  feet,  with  front  on  Maine  street,  and 
contained  two  stories  of  two  rooms  each  and  a  crude  cellar  under 
the  northern  half. 

In  the  course  of  this  and  the  preceding  year  we  find  a  num- 
ber of  changes  in  teachers,  Messrs.  Knapp,  Kuhnel,  Mosbach, 
Kappus  and  Joseph  Nadermann  succeeding  each  other  in  rapid 


Rev.  Francis   Xavier  Weninger,   S.  J. 
"The  Apostle  of  the  German  Catholics  of  America." 

Born  at  Steiermnrk,  Austria,  Oct.  31st,  1806.  Became  Jesuit  in  1832, 
landed  in  America  in  1848.  Died  at  Cincinnati  June  29th,  1888.  Con- 
ducted two  Missions  at  St.  Boniface  in  1851  and  1883, 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 19 

order.  The  last  of  these,  who  took  great  interest  in  St.  Joseph 
Young  Men's  Society,  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Stetem  and  later  Mr. 
Mueller,  and  for  three  months  had  Mr.  Altmicks  as  his  substi- 
tute. In  1858  came  Peter  Gottesleben,  who  remained  till  1865, 
and  was  ably  assisted  from  1859  by  Hy.  Ant.  Oenning,  who  suc- 
ceeded him  in  1866,  also  acting  as  sacristan,  and  it  was  during  his 
term  and  as  his  substitute  whilst  on  a  six  months'  trip  to  Eu- 
rope, that  Edward  Sohm,  now  secretary  of  the  church  board, 
taught  school. 

From  the  time  the  erection  of  this  school  building  was  un- 
dertaken, the  health  of  Father  Kuenster  began  to  fail,  so  much 
so  that  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  Damian  Juncker,  who  had  been  conse- 
crated first  bishop  of  Alton  April  26th,  1857,  sent  his  secretary, 
Father  J.  M*enge,  to  assist  him  in  his  work.  A  few  weeks  later 
the  bishop  came  himself,  but  he  arrived  too  late;  for  Father 
Kuenster,  whose  last  entry  in  the  church  records  is  dated  Sep- 
tember 1st,  had  suddenly  taken  a  change  for  the  worse,  and  after 
lying  three  days  unconscious,  died  September  15th,  1857.  After 
conducting  the  funeral  services  the  next  day,  the  bishop  re- 
mained in  Quincy  about  ten  days,  during  which  time,  after  a 
meeting  with  the  trustees  of  the  parish,  he  provided  for  a  pas- 
toral residence,  by  purchasing  for  the  sum  of  $3,600.00  a  piece 
of  property  immediately  north  of  the  church,  and  beginning  with 
the  north-east  corner  of  lot  8,  then  extending  90  feet  west,  then 
40  feet  south,  then  90  feet  east,  finally  40  feet  north  to  the  start- 
ing point.  On  this  property  stood  a  two-story  brick  house  about 
22x45  feet,  with  front  on  Seventh  street,  containing  six  rooms, 
including  kitchen,  which  was  now  to  be  St.  Boniface  Parsonage, 
until  it  gave  way  to  the  present  stately  mansion  erected  in  1898. 

As  successor  to  Father  Kuenster,  the  bishop  selected  Father 
John  Reis  of  Assumption,  Merrimac  River,  St.  Louis  Co. ;  but, 
being  a  very  weak  and  sickly  man,  he  asked  to  be  spared  so  re- 
sponsible a  position,  and  only  assumed  charge  temporarily  from 
October  llth,  1857,  until  Aug.  26th,  1858.  At  this  time  Father 
Bartholomew  Bartels,  of  Teutopolis,  Illinois,  was  chosen  to  suc- 
ceed him,  but,  being  engaged  in  building,  could  not  leave  his 
place  at  once.  In  the  meantime  Father  Ratte,  who  had  just 
arrived  from  Germany,  received  a  temporary  appointment,  which 
he,  however,  considered  permanent,  so  that  when  Father  Bartels 
finally  arrived  in  October  and  had  taken  in  the  situation,  he  left 


20 DIAMOND  JUBILEE 

again  for  Alton,  declining  the  position  at  St.  Boniface  for  him- 
self, but  recommending  the  appointment  of  Father  Herman  Jo- 
seph Schaefermeyer,  also  lately  arrived  from  the  Fatherland. 
Father  Schaefermeyer  was  appointed  and  came  to  Quincy  about 
the  18th  of  December.  But  Father  Ratte  was  also  still  here, 
and  the  question  of  "who's  who"  was  greatly  in  doubt  until  Jan- 
uary, 1859,  when  the  bishop  sent  his  secretary,  Father  Menge,  to 
officially  install  Father  Schaefermeyer  as  pastor,  and  to  assign 
to  Father  Ratte  his  position  as  assistant,  with  the  result  that  the 
latter  left  for  other  regions. 

ERA  OF  FATHER  SCHAEFERMEYER, 

The  Beautifier  of  St.  Boniface. 

Dec.  18th,  1858— Sept.  23rd,  1872. 


When  Father  Schaefermeyer  assumed  his  duties  at  St. 
Boniface,  the  congregation  had  become  so  large  that  the  church 
was  taxed  again  to  its  utmost  capacity.  In  1859  the  Franciscan 
Fathers,  at  the  invitation  of  Bishop  Juncker  and  through  the 
efforts  of  Father  Schaefermeyer,  came  to  Quincy.  Already  in 
the  spring  of  the  year  Father  Capistran  had  responded  to  a  call 
for  help  during  the  busy  Easter  season,  and  he  remained  from 
Low  Sunday  until  the  Feast  of  the  Blessed  Trinity.  But  the 
first  to  take  up  permanent  quarters  in  the  city  was  Father  Ser- 
vatius  Altmicks,  who  had  been  appointed  pastor  and  superior  and 
arrived  Dec.  2nd  of  the  same  year;  whilst  in  February,  1860, 
came  Father  Heribert  Hoffmann,  accompanied  by  the  three 
clerics,  Bernadine  Hermann,  Maurice  Klostermann  and  Raynerius 
Dickneite.  From  this  time  until  they  took  possession  of  their 
own  home,  April  17th,  1861,  these  priests  and  clerics  were  valu- 
able assistants  at  St.  Boniface,  and  by  means  of  additional 
Masses  which  could  now  be  celebrated,  the  former  congestion  in 
the  church  was  somewhat  relieved.  But  this  arrangement  was 
only  temporary.  From  Sept.  18th,  1859,  to  Oct.  10th,  1860, 
Father  Temmen  was  the  regular  assistant  to  Father  Schaefer- 
meyer, and  his  successor  from  April  28th,  1861,  to  March  3rd, 
1863,  was  Father  Rustemeyer. 

In  December  1859  the  School  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame,  with 
headquarters  at  Milwaukee,  were  likewise  induced  by  Bishop 
Juncker  and  Father  Schaefermeyer  to  come  to  Quincy  and  as- 
sume control  of  the  girls  of  St.  Boniface  School,  with  Mother  M. 


Former  Pastors  of  St    Boniface 


Rev.  Aug.  Brickwedde, 
First  Pastor 

Aug.  15th,  1837— March  16th,  1849. 


Rev.  JOB.  Kuenster. 
Second  Pastor. 

Aug.  15th,  1850— Sept.  15th,  1857. 


Rev.   Mi-fin.  Jos.  Schaefermeyer. 
Third   Pastor. 

Dec.  18th,  1858— Sept.  23rd,  1872. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 21 

Seraphine  as  their  first  superior.  One  room  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  school  house,  together  with  the  cellar,  were  put  at  their 
disposal  for  a  residence,  until  in  1861  a  third  story  for  their 
exclusive  use  was  added  to  the  building;  whilst  already  in  the 
fall  of  1860,  another  house  just  opposite,  belonging  to  John  Ben- 
ning,  and  now  occupied  by  the  French  Dye  Works,  and  still  an- 
other located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Ninth  and  Maine 
streets  had  been  rented  to  accommodate  the  two  grades  of  boys, 
who  were  left  as  before  in  charge  of  lay  teachers. 

Not  only  the  church  and  school,  but  also  the  cemetery  had 
become  too  small  for  the  ever  growing  needs  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  it  was  necessary  to  seek  new  burial  grounds.  In  the 
year  of  1860  a  beautiful  site  of  about  five  acres,  just  south  of 
Singleton  Farm  was  bought  for  the  purpose,  but  being  too  far 
away  from  the  church,  it  was  sold  again  that  very  same  year 
and  the  southeast  portion,  about  5  acres  also,  of  the  present 
cemetery  on  Twentieth  and  State  streets,  was  acquired  instead 
for  $2,000.00. 

In  this  year,  during  the  time  of  Lent,  the  Forty  Hours  De- 
votion, which  has  been  annually  observed  ever  since,  was  intro- 
duced into  the  parish. 

On  July  2nd,  1860,  a  most  solemn  ceremony,  the  first  of  its 
kind,  took  place  at  St.  Boniface  in  the  ordination  to  the  holy 
priesthood  of  the  three  above  named  Franciscan  clerics,  now 
deacons  since  Feb.  9th,  Bernadine,  Maurice  and  Raynerius,  who 
also  brought  their  First  Offering  to  God  in  this  church  on  July 
5th,  6th  and  7th  respectively,  and  the  latter  of  whom  was  left  here 
awhile  as  regular  assistant.  It  was  on  the  occasion  of  this 
ordination  that  Bishop  Juncker  also  laid  the  corner-stone  for  a 
new  church,  which,  under  the  title  of  St.  Francis  Solanus,  was  to 
be  in  charge  of  the  Franciscan  Fathers  and  was  intended  to  take 
away  a  part  of  the  too  extensive  St.  Boniface  Parish.  Before  he 
left  he  also  dedicated  the  new  addition  to  the  cemetery.  In  the 
same  year,  June  12th,  Father  Schaefermeyer  had  been  appointed 
by  Bishop  Juncker  vicar-general  of  the  diocese,  which  appoint- 
ment was  later  ratified  by  his  successor  Bishop  Baltes. 

Even  after  a  portion  of  the  parish  had  been  severed,  the 
church  was  far  too  small  to  accommodate  those  who  remained. 
To  bring  about  the  necessary  relief,  it  was  decided  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1861  to  tear  away  the  rear  wall  of  the  building  and  to 


22 DIAMOND  JUBILEE 

erect  an  addition  to  be  used  as  a  sanctuary,  thus  leaving  the 
entire  original  structure  for  the  use  of  the  faithful.  The  result 
was  the  carefully  planned  sanctuary  which  still  serves  its  pur- 
pose, and  which  through  its  general  elevation  of  2  feet  7  inches, 
and  the  additional  2  feet  2  inches  height  of  its  steps,  places  the 
priests  at  the  altar  in  full  view  of  the  entire  congregation.  In 
addition  to  the  sanctuary,  also  new  sacristies  were  built  to  the 
east  and  to  the  west,  and  the  place  hitherto  used  for  a  vestry 
was  converted  into  a  chapel,  now  used  for  a  baptistry. 

On  March  8th,  1862,  Henry  Kalmer,  who  had  come  from 
Germany  in  1850,  was  ordained  priest,  and  he  is  the  first  member 
of  the  parish  to  receive  Holy  Orders. 

In  June  Bishop  Juncker  administered  Confirmation,  and  he 
remained  in  Quincy  nine  days,  celebrating  Pontifical  High  Mass 
at  St.  Boniface  on  the  feast  of  its  patron  saint,  June  5th. 

In  1863  the  church  was  painted  within  and  without  by  a  cer- 
tain Hendricks  for  $500.00.  The  interior  decoration  was  only 
temporary  and  consisted  merely  of  straight  lines  dividing  the 
surface  of  the  walls  into  square  blocks. 

In  June  of  the  same  year,  another  very  successful  mission 
was  given  at  St.  Boniface  by  the  gifted  Father  Weninger. 

On  Aug.  23rd,  Father  Schaefermeyer  organized  "St.  John's 
(Baptist)  Society"  of  men  and  young  men,  for  the  purpose  of 
assisting  to  furnish  and  beautify  the  church,  as  was  being 
done  by  the  Ladies'  and  Young  Ladies'  societies.  This  purpose 
it  continued  to  fulfill  until  in  1875,  when  Father  Ostrop  con- 
verted it  into  "St.  John's  School  Society,"  to  contribute  towards 
the  support  of  the  school,  only  to  see  it  dissolve  in  1877.  In 
1863  was  also  introduced  into  the  parish  the  "Young  Men's  So- 
dality," whilst  of  the  "Society  of  the  Holy  Childhood" ("Kindheit 
Jesu  Verein")  which  also  dates  back  to  about  this  time,  the  date 
of  establishment  is  not  known. 

From  June  16th  to  Sept.  13th  Father  Henry  Rinkes  was  as- 
sistant priest  to  Father  Schaefermeyer,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Fathers  Kolopp,  June  16th,  1863-April  19th,  1864;  F.  Witthaut, 
April  24th-Dec.  9th,  1864;  G.  Lueken,  Dec.  5th,  1864-July  24th, 
1865 ;  F.  Reinhart,  July  9th,  1865-Nov.  25th,  1867 ;  —  Schweizer, 
June  19th,  1866-Sept.  21st,  1866;  F.  Stick,  June  30-Oct  23rd, 
1867;  H.  J.  Hoven,  Nov.  10th,  1867-Jan.  19th,  1868;  G.  Kuchen- 
bach,  Jan.  22nd-March  8th,  1868 ;  Th.  Kamann,  March  4th-April 
23rd,  1868;  Wm.  Schamoni,  April  19th,  1868-Oct.  25th,  1869;  B. 


Former  Pastors  of  St.  Boniface 


li.-v  .  Francis  A.  Ostrop. 
Fourth  Pastor. 

Sept.  27th,  1872— Sept.  1st,  1877. 


Rev.  John  Janssen. 
Fifth  Pastor. 

Sept.  1st,  1877— Dec.  31st,  1879. 


Rev.  Tln-o.  Rruener,  Sixth  Pastor. 

Dec.  31st,  1879— Nov.  10th,  1887, 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 23 

Rossmoeller,  Oct.  5th,  1868-Jan.  22nd,  1869  ;  H.  Eggenstein, 
Nov.  10th,  1869-April  19th,  1870;  H.  Beerhorst,  March  15th, 
1870-April  20th,  1871 ;  W.  Drube,  Nov.  4th  -30th,  1870 ;  B.  Glaus, 
Dec.  llth,  1870-Jan.  10th,  1872;  G.  Hoppe,  Jan.  17th-Nov.  5th, 
1872 ;  H.  A.  Hellhake,  May  5th-Aug.  10th,  1872. 

In  speaking  of  the  assistants  of  Father  Schaefermeyer  a 
casual  mention  can  not  be  omitted  of  a  saintly  layman  who  came 
with  him  from  Germany,  and  was  not  only  his  inseparable  com- 
panion, but  his  house-keeper,  sacristan,  private  secretary,  man- 
ager and  "coadjutor  general."  It  was  the  devoted  August 
Walter,  popularly  known  as  "Bruder  August." 

Whilst  the  assistants  of  Father  Schaefermeyer  were  com- 
ing and  going  at  a  merry  pace,  the  school  teachers  seem  to  have 
been  playing  a  similar  game.  Mr.  Muehlenmeister,  successor 
to  Mr.  Peter  Gottesleben  in  1865,  held  school  for  one 
year,  (during  which  Mr.  Bortscheller  and  Dr.  Rooney 
were  here  for  a  very  short  time)  and  had  as  his  suc- 
cessor Mr.  Gressing,  who  taught  from  1866-1868, 
whilst  Mr.  Henry  Anton  Oenning,  his  assistant,  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Leifhelm,  from  1866-1867.  From  1868-1869  Mr.  Guetbues 
was  in  charge  of  the  higher  grade  of  boys,  and  was  followed, 
1869-1870,  by  Frederick  Jasper,  whose  place  was  filled  from 
Aug.  1870-June,  1872,  by  Ignaz  Bergmann,  but  whom  he  suc- 
ceeded again  for  1872-1878,  assisted  by  a  Mr.  Danler. 

But  amidst  this  galaxy  of  priests  and  teachers,  we  are  los- 
ing sight  of  the  church  and  the  improvements  that  were  being 
planned  and  carried  out.  A  beginning  was  made  with  the  altars, 
which  up  to  that  time  were  hardly  worthy  of  the  name.  The 
only  redeeming  feature  of  the  main  one  was  the  painting,  al- 
ready spoken  of  before,  representing  the  Savior  of  the  World, 
which  stood  above  it,  whilst  the  side  altars  did  not  have  a  sim- 
ilar advantage,  since  the  one  on  the  Epistle  side  was  surmounted 
by  a  very  crude  statue  of  St.  Joseph,  and  the  one  on  the  Gospel 
side  by  a  painting,  said  to  have  been  done  by  a  certain  Harn 
(non-Catholic)  of  which  it  was  never  ascertained  whether  it 
should  represent  the  Ascension  of  Christ  or  the  Assumption  of 
His  Blessed  Mother,  and  which,  after  its  removal  from  the  altar 
until  last  summer,  disfigured  one  of  the  walls  of  the  little  chapel. 
So  the  best  altar  builder  of  those  days,  the  Benedictine  Brother 
Cosmas  of  Covington,  Kentucky,  was  called  upon,  July  1863,  to 
construct  three  massive  new  altars,  to  be  finished  in  gray  and 


24  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


gold,  the  principal  one  of  which  was  to  cost  $2,000.00,  and  the 
others  $500  each.  In  May,  1864,  the  new  altars  were  set  up,  and 
they  are  the  same  ones  that  are  doing  service  still.  The  paint- 
ings, included  in  the  price,  are  the  work  of  John  Schmitt,  also 
of  Covington,  and  represent,  on  the  main  altar  and  in  the  larger 
panel,  St.  Boniface  converting  the  Teutons,  with  the  deacons  St. 
Stephen  and  St.  Lawrence  in  the  smaller  panels  to  his  right  and 
left;  and  on  the  side  altars,  aside  the  statues  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  and  St.  Joseph,  respectively,  SS.  Theresa  and  Elizabeth, 
SS.  Anthony  and  Aloysius.  The  three  new  altars  were  conse- 
crated by  Bishop  Juncker,  and  the  main  one  was  constituted  a. 
privileged  altar,  by  virtue  of  which  a  special  plenary  indulgence 
is  attached  to  every  Mass  for  the  deceased  which  is  celebrated 
thereat. 

To  pay  for  these  altars,  St.  Boniface  Society  had  already  in 
Aug.  1861,  when  it  was  first  decided  to  order  them,  allowed 
$100.00.  This  good  example  was  followed  by  St.  Joseph  Young 
Men's  Society,  whose  members  during  the  following  winter  gave 
a  special  entertainment  to  raise  funds  for  the  purpose,  whilst  the 
St.  Elizabeth  Ladies'  Society,  in  July,  1863,  donated  $270.00  and 
$530.00  more  in  October,  with  $250.00  added  the  following  M'ay 
and  still  $500.00  in  October.  A  number  of  individual  contribu- 
tions were  also  made,  so  that  there  remained  only  $300.00  to  be 
paid  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  church. 

Too  much  can  not  be  said  in  praise  of  the  generous  spirit 
shown  by  the  members  of  the  Ladies'  Society  towards  the  church 
throughout  its  history.  Besides  their  allowances  already  men- 
tioned, the  following  were  also  made  by  them  during  the  admin- 
istration of  Father  Schaefermeyer :  In  1865,  $239.00  for  furnish- 
ings in  the  parsonage,  and  $485.00  for  oil-cloth  for  the  floor  of 
the  church;  in  1866,  $207.00  for  a  new  communion  rail,  which 
inclosed  not  only  the  confines  of  the  present  sanctuary,  but  also 
the  space  around  the  two  side  altars;  in  1867,  $130.00  for  a 
precious  reliquary;  in  Jan.  1868,  $125  for  a  silver  chalice,  and 
in  July  $170.00  towards  the  station  paintings;  in  1871,  $150.00 
for  a  picture  of  St.  Rose;  besides  vestments,  and  other  minor 
articles  for  the  church  as  well  as  for  the  parish  residence  amount- 
ing to  nearly  a  thousand  dollars. 

In  1864  a  site  lying  four  lots  west  of  the  school,  with  a 
building  that  was  subsequently  used  for  some  of  the  pupils,  was 


Very  Rev.  Dean  Michael  Weis, 
Seventh  Pastor. 

Nov.  10th,  1887,  to  Nov.  9th,  1909. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 215 

bought  for  the  sum  of  $6,000.00,  with  a  view  of  afterwards  buying 
the  intervening  property  and  erecting  a  larger  school;  but  when 
it  was  found  that  this  plan  could  not  be  carried  through,  the 
place  was  sold  again  to  Henry  Ridder.  In  1866  the  old  Prot- 
estant church  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Seventh  and  Jersey 
streets,  which  later  on  became  St..  Joseph's  Negro  Church,  was 
purchased  for  $7,000,  and  this  served  as  a  school  building  for  the 
boys  until  the  completion  of  our  present  magnificent  school. 

In  March  23rd,  1865,  was  organized  the  "Confraternity  of 
the  Holy  Agony"  ("Todesangstbruderschaft"),  having  for  its 
object  the  preparation  for  a  happy  death,  and  it  started  with  a 
membership  of  over  600. 

During  this  year  an  addition  was  built  to  the  parsonage ;  by 
which  name  we  are  designating  the  little  two-story  house  bought 
of  Mr.  Lock  in  1857,  as  stated  above,  and  containing,  besides  the 
kitchen  only  5  rooms  about  16x14  feet,  to  which  another  room 
and  a  small  summer  kitchen  had  been  attached.  The  new  addi- 
tion was  added  to  the  south  of  this.  It  consisted  of  two  stories  of 
two  rooms  each,  and  gave  to  the  whole  a  more  symmetrical 
appearance.  In  addition  to  this  a  cellar  was  also  dug. 

In  July,  1866,  a  gas  lighting  system  was  installed  in  the 
church  to  replace  the  very  primitive  method  of  candle  lights,  at  a 
cost  of  $552.95,  of  which  $380.00  was  raised  by  means  of  a  special 
collection. 

Between  the  years  1859  and  1867  Father  Schaefermeyer  was 
instrumental  in  the  opening  of  several  Catholic  institutions  in 
our  city,  which  had  indeed  an  humble  beginning,  but  have  since 
then  made  steady  progress,  until  they  now  stand  second  to  none 
of  their  kind  in  the  land,  and  are  the  just  pride  of  every  loyal 
Quincyan.  The  first  of  these  is  St.  Francis  Solanus  College, 
which  Father  Servatius  Altmicks,  O.  F.  M.,  opened  in  St. 
Aloysius  Orphan  Home  as  early  as  1860,  and  for  which  Father 
Anselm  Mueller,  its  rector  for  36  years,  erected  a  magnificent 
building,  1870-71.  The  second  is  St.  Mary's  Hospital,  in  charge 
of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  from  Aix-la-Chapelle,  which  was 
conducted  from  the  day  of  their  arrival  in  Quincy,  May  19th. 
1866,  in  a  little  house  that  was  rented  on  Twentieth  street,  until 
October  25th,  1867,  when  their  substantial  new  building,  begun 
in  March  of  the  same  year,  was  ready  for  occupancy.  Finally 
we  have  St.  Mary's  Academy,  located  on  tbe  site  that  had  been 
bought  by  Bishop  Juncker  for  his  proposed  cathedral,  but  had 


26  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


been  sold  to  the  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame  as  early  as  March  15th, 
1861,  for  a  convent  and  school,  which  latter  was  opened  in  Sept. 
1867  by  Mother  Boniface,  who  since  her  arrival  in  1863,  had  been 
conducting  a  post-graduate  course  at  the  parish  school. 

Mention  must  also  be  made  of  the  fact  that  it  was  Father 
Schaefermeyer  who  organized  St.  Antonius  Parish  in  Melrose 
Township  in  1859,  and  urged  the  people  to  build  the  first  frame 
church,  which  he  dedicated  Nov.  llth,  1861,  but  which  was  re- 
placed a  few  years  later  by  the  present  neat  little  edifice  of  brick, 
for  which  he  laid  the  corner-stone  on  Aug.  15th,  1869,  and  which 
was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Baltes  June  13th,  1870. 

He  it  was  also  who  encouraged  the  organization  of  St. 
Joseph's  Parish,  whose  members  from  1867-1868  erected  the  "Old 
Rock  Church"  on  Columbus  Road,  which  was  destroyed  by  a 
cyclone  in  1902  and  replaced  by  the  present  frame  church,  for 
which  Father  Weis  laid  the  corner-stone  March  3rd,  1903,  and 
which  Bishop  Ryan  dedicated  the  same  year,  June  22nd. 

On  Jan.  13th,  1867,  occurred  the  ordination  to  the  holy 
priesthood  of  Father  Francis  (bapt.  Joseph  Bernard)  Moenning, 
O.  F.  M.,  who  was  born  at  Bakum,  Germany,  but  had  come  to 
Quincy  at  an  early  age  and  been  for  a  time  a  member  of  St. 
Boniface  Church. 

August  24th,  1868,  was  the  Silver  Jubilee  of  Father 
Schaefermeyer,  and  the  extraordinary  attendance  by  the  clergy 
as  well  as  the  laity,  showed  how  popular  he  was  with  both. 
Bishop  Juncker  could  not  attend  in  person  on  account  of  sick- 
ness, which  resulted  in  his  death,  Oct.  2nd. 

The  building  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  1867-1869,  gave  a  new 
impetus  to  the  work  of  improving  St.  Boniface.  As  the  next  thing 
on  the  program  it  was  decided  to  remove  the  massive  square  pil- 
lars of  brick,  measuring  \\l/2  feet  in  circumference,  which  sup- 
ported the  roof,  and  to  replace  them  with  more  slender  columns 
of  steel,  which,  whilst  they  would  offer  the  same  support,  would 
allow  more  room  and  a  better  view  in  the  church.  Some  wise 
ones  began  to  shake  their  heads ;  but  Brother  Adrian,  the  well- 
known  architect  of  the  Franciscan  Order,  and  Henry  Schenk, 
who  later  became  famous  as  altar-builder,  said  it  could  be  done ; 
and  so  with  the  approval  of  the  bishop,  the  latter  was  awarded 
the  contract  to  carry  out  the  plans.  All  winter,  1868-1869,  he 
was  kept  busy  in  his  workshop  under  the  school  on  Seventh 


Rev.  Henry  B.  Degenhardt, 
Present  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION  27 

and  Jersey  streets,  executing  the  beautiful  carvings  which  were 
to  clothe  the  new  pillars,  and  making  other  preparations.  In 
the  beginning  of  the  following  summer,  the  work  of  tearing 
down  the  old  and  setting  up  the  new  was  begun,  and  as  if  by 
magic,  so  rapidly  and  so  perfectly  was  it  accomplished.  The 
plans  for  improving  the  church  included  also  a  great  arch  in 
Romanesque  style,  extending  across  the  entire  width  of  the 
sanctuary,  and  similar  smaller  arches  to  connect  the  new  pillars 
and  give  to  the  whole  a  more  churchly  appearance,  than  the  per- 
fectly straight  lines  which  hitherto  prevailed ;  and  these  also 
were  soon  in  their  places.  Next  in  order  the  windows  were  ex- 
tended higher,  then  a  new  floor  was  laid,  and  soon  new  pews 
and  a  new  pulpit  followed.  Before  the  end  of  that  same  year 
the  entire  work  was  completed,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  all 
concerned. 

The  following  summer  (1870)  Mr.  Wm.  Thien,  of  Cincin- 
nati, who  the  year  before  had  so  beautifully  decorated  the  in- 
terior of  the  new  St.  Mary's  Church,  was  called  upon  to  do  sim- 
ilar work  in  St.  Boniface;  and  for  40  years  his  exquisite  designs, 
especially  that  of  the  sanctuary  tapestry,  have  been  the  admira- 
tion of  all  who  saw  them,  until  it  became  necessary  to  re-decor- 
ate the  church  last  summer.  His  contract  for  $3,373.50  included 
the  finishing  of  the  new  pulpit  and  other  furniture,  as  also  the 
frescoing  of  the  former  sacristy,  now  converted  into  a  little 
chapel  used  for  a  baptistry,  wherein  was  also  placed  an  altar  in 
honor  of  the  Sorrowful  Mother,  mounted  by  a  statue  carved  in 
wood  by  Messrs.  Allart  and  Kloster  of  Cincinnati,  after  the 
model  of  the  famous  Pieta  of  Achtermann  in  the  Cathedral  of 
Muenster. 

And  still  the  beautification  of  the  church  was  not  .complete 
in  the  eyes  of  Father  Schaefermeyer.  The  two  side  walls  of  the 
sanctuary  offered  excellent  fields  for  beautiful  paintings,  and 
so  the  most  famous  church  artist  of  America,  Wm.  Lamp- 
recht,  was  engaged  to  produce  the  best  his  skill  could  command ; 
and  the  result  was  two  rare  masterpieces  that  will  compare  most 
favorably  with  the  greatest  works  of  their  kind  in  Rome  itself, 
the  one  on  the  Epistle  side  representing  the  Three  Wise  Men  in 
the  act  of  adoring  the  Infant  Jesus  and  offering  their  gifts,  the 
other  on  the  Gospel  side  portraying,  on  a  double  field,  the  powers 
conferred  by  Christ  upon  St.  Peter,  and  passing  from  him  to  his 


28  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


successors  represented  by  the  illustrious  reigning  Pontiff,  Pius 
IX.,  around  whom  as  their  universal  father,  are  gathered  like 
one  great  family,  cardinals,  bishops,  priests  and  laymen  typical 
of  the  various  nations  of  the  earth.  The  cost  of  these  paint- 
ings, $700.00,  was  defrayed  by  donations. 

So  well  was  everyone  pleased  with  his  work,  that  Mr.  Lamp- 
recht  was  at  once  instructed  to  paint  designs  for  the  four  double 
sanctuary  windows,  which  were  then  reproduced  in  stained  glass 
by  the  firm  Burgund  of  Cincinnati.  The  windows  on  the  Gospel 
side  show  us  the  four  Evangelists,  SS.  Mathew,  Mark,  Luke  and 
John,  with  their  customary  symbols,  man,  lion,  steer  and  eagle, 
whilst  on  the  Epistle  side  we  see  the  four  so-called  Latin  Fathers 
of  the  Church,  SS.  Augustine,  Gregory  the  Great,  Ambrose  and 
Jerome,  with  their  characteristic  emblems,  the  heart,  the  dove, 
the  bee-hive  and  again  the  lion.  These  four  windows,  each  con- 
taining two  figures,  and  costing  $375.00  apiece,  were  donated  by 
Herman  and  Elizabeth  Witte,  Joseph  and  Caroline  Brock- 
schmidt,  Henry  and  Amelia  Cramer  and  Anton  and  Elizabeth 
Lubbe. 

The  last  piece  of  work  from  the  master  brush  of  Mr.  Lamp- 
recht,  is  an  exquisite  little  painting  representing  the  Fourteen 
Holy  Helpers  grouped  in  characteristic  attitude  around  the  In- 
fant Jesus,  which  can  be  seen  in  the  chapel,  where  also  hangs 
another  dainty  picture  of  the  Blessed  Herman  Joseph,  patron 
saint  of  Father  Schaefermeyer,  kneeling  before  a  statue  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  and  holding  out  a  luscious  apple  to  the  Saviour 
in  her  arms,  which  latter  painting,  however,  is  the  work  of  a 
Notre  Dame  Sister  from  Milwaukee  and  was  presented  to  the 
pastor  on  the  occasion  of  his  Silver  Jubilee  as  priest.  Both  these 
paintings  had  suffered  much  from  time  and  exposure  and  were 
hardly  recognizable,  until  they  were  restored  in  the  year  1911  to 
their  original  beauty  by  the  skilful  hand  of  Sister  M.  Engelberta, 
likewise  of  the  Order  of  Notre  Dame,  who  at  the  same  time  re- 
touched, or  rather  repainted,  the  three  great  pictures  mounted  in 
the  panels  of  the  main  altar  of  the  church. 

About  the  same  time  the  other  improvements  in  the  church 
were  going  on,  Father  Schaefermeyer  also  ordered  new  stations, 
the  frames  of  which  were  carved  by  Mr.  Schenk,  whilst  the  pic- 
tures were  imported  from  Paderborn  and  are  genuine  oil  paint- 
ings, and  not  mere  chromos.  To  defray  the  expense,  besides  the 


RT.  REV.  JOHN  JANSSEN,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Belleville. 

Fifth  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface,  Becomes  First  Bishop  of  Belleville. 
Consecrated  Apiil25, 1888. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


$170.00  contributed,  as  already  stated,  by  the  Ladies'  Society, 
$140.00  was  allowed  by  St.  John's  Society,  whilst  the  balance  was 
made  up  of  individual  donations. 

A  number  of  statues  were  also  purchased,  some  of  which 
were  placed  in  the  sanctuary,  whilst  for  the  others  a  pedestal  was 
provided  at  the  capital  of  every  pillar,  and  later  lowered  to  the 
present  position.  These  statues  represent,  in  the  sanctuary,  and 
passing  from  the  Epistle  to  the  Gospel  side,  St.  Bernard,  St. 
Boniface,  St.  Ludgerus,  St.  John  the  Baptist  ;  and  outside  of  the 
sanctuary,  going  down  on  the  Epistle  side,  St.  Peter,  St.  Henry, 
St.  Rose  of  Lima,  and  returning  on  the  Gospel  side  St.  Agatha, 
St.  Dominic  and  St.  Paul  ;  whilst  just  opposite  the  pulpit,  in  place 
of  the  present  statue  of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  later  above  it,  was 
placed  the  statue  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  now  seen  under  the 
gallery  of  the  church  and  opposite  the  statue  of  St.  Anne,  which 
latter  was  donated  this  year  by  Mrs.  Geo.  Starmann,  and  was 
carved  out  of  wood  by  that  thorough  artist  of  St.  Louis,  Mr. 
Schneiderhahn. 

Finally  in  1870  the  organ  of  the  church  was  entirely  rebuilt, 
the  work  being  done  by  Mr.  Weinrich  for  the  sum  of  about 
$600.00. 

The  total  cost  of  these  improvements  made  by  Father 
Schaefermeyer,  amounted  to  more  than  $20,000.00,  but  they  made 
the  interior  of  St.  Boniface  Church  one  of  the  most  attractive  in 
the  country  at  the  time,  and  one  that  even  now,  though  it  has 
been  surpassed  in  many  regards,  still  stands  in  a  class  by  itself, 
for  the  air  of  devotion  emanating  from  its  very  walls  and  for  the 
inspiration  to  fervent  prayer  which  it  imparts  to  all  who  come 
to  worship  there. 

From  the  20th  to  28th  of  February,  1870,  another  mission 
was  conducted  by  the  Jesuit  Fathers  Karlstaetter,  Greisch  and 
Hieber,  just  lately  arrived  from  Germany,  during  which  there 
were  2,300  communicants  and  6  converts. 

On  Sept.  18th,  1870,  "St.  Stephen's  Society",  having  for  its 
object  to  provide  for  the  poor,  was  organized,  with  the  following 
officers  at  its  head:  President,  Ant.  Jos.  Lubbe;  Vice-President, 
Hy.  Ording;  Secretary,  Hy.  F.  J.  Ricker;  Treasurer,  John  Her- 
man Tenk.  This  society  was,  for  various  reasons,  a  failure  from 
its  very  start  and  was  dissolved  by  Father  Ostrop  in  1873. 

On  Dec.  14th,  1870,  a  mass-meeting,  attended  by  thousands 


30  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


of  people,  was  held  at  the  old  Skating  Rink  of  those  days, 
between  Eighth  and  Ninth  and  Jersey  and  York  streets,  at 
which  a  strong  protest  was  voiced  against  the  Italian  govern- 
ment for  its  robbery  committed  against  the  Church,  and  arrange- 
ments were  made  to  send  the  Holy  Father  financial  aid. 

Already  on  March  8th,  1869,  an  act,  providing  for  the  hold- 
ing of  Catholic  church  property  had  been  passed  by  the  Legis- 
lature of  Illinois,  in  accordance  with  which  the  legal  title  for 
such  property  was  to  be  vested  in  a  board  of  trustees,  consist- 
ing of  the  bishop  and  vicar-  general  of  the  diocese,  together  with 
the  pastor  and  two  laymen  of  every  parish.  The  provisions  of 
this  law  were  complied  with  at  St.  Boniface  on  April  1st,  1871, 
when  Father  Schaefermeyer,  the  pastor  and  ex-officio  president 
of  the  new  church  board,  together  with  Bishop  Baltes  and  his 
vicar-general,  Father  Janssen, appointed  Hjy.  Duerholt  and  Theo- 
dore Weltin  to  act  with  them  in  the  capacity  of  secretary  and 
treasurer  respectively,  and  executed  the  proper  document  set- 
ting forth  these  facts,  to  be  sent  to  the  secretary  of  state  at 
Springfield.  When  Mr.  Weltin  resigned  on  Jan.  29th,  1873, 
Fidelis  Hellstern  became  his  successor,  until  Jan.  1st,  1899,  when 
Mr.  Duerholt  was  made  treasurer  and  Edward  Sohm,  who  has 
been  on  the  church  board  ever  since,  succeeded  him  as  secretary ; 
whilst  George  Fischer,  the  present  treasurer,  is  holding  that 
position  since  Dec.  17th,  1902,  his  predecessor  having  died 
Dec.  7th. 

Besides  these  "trustees,"  in  the  sense  of  the  law,  who,  to- 
gether with  the  bishop,  vicar-general  and  pastor,  form  the  parish 
corporation  and  conduct  its  business  affairs,  the  custom  was  in- 
troduced at  St.  Boniface  of  appointing  other  laymen,  from  two  to 
four  in  number,  who  are  called  "directors,"  and  whose  privilege 
it  is  to  be  present  at  the  meetings  of  the  former  and  to  offer  sug- 
gestions on  all  subjects  that  come  up  for  discussion.  In  this 
capacity  the  following  members  of  the  parish  have  served  since 
1869,  viz. :  J.  H.  Bernzen,  Henry  Stuckenborg,  Henry  Lammers, 
Henry  Anton  Oenning,  John  Herm.  Tenk,  Jos.  Lubbe,  Frank 
Sonnett,  and  Oscar  P.  Huck,  the  last  three  of  whom  are  the 
present  incumbents. 

In  this  connection  let  us  state,  however,  that  even 
long  before  the  enactment  of  the  statute  requiring  legal  trustees, 
the  laity  of  St.  Boniface  had  a  part  in  the  administration  of  the 
temporal  affairs  of  the  parish,  for  as  early  as  1847  we  find  the 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 31 

signatures  of  Joseph  Mast  and  Pantaleon  Sohm,  who  were  suc- 
ceeded in  turn  by  Anton  Lampe,  Simon  Glass,  Christopher 
Meyer,  H.  F.  J.  Ricker,  Sr.,  John  Benning,  Anton  J.  Lubbe, 
Henry  Geise,  Henry  Ridder  and  Caspar  Mast. 

June  16th,  1871,  marks  a  very  joyous  occasion,  it  being  the 
Silver  Jubilee  of  Pope  Pius  IX.  as  Head  of  the  Church.  The 
features  of  the  Quincy  celebration,  which  lasted  two  days,  were  a 
General  Communion  and  special  prayers  offered  up  by  all  for  the 
Holy  Father,  a  monster  parade  in  which  6,000  to  7,000  took  part 
(amongst  them  258  little  girls  in  white,  carrying  banners  with 
pictures  of  all  the  Popes)  and  finally  a  spectacular  illumination 
and  pyrotechnic  display  which  was  conceded  by  secular  papers 
to  have  been  the  grandest  ever  seen  in  Quincy. 

On  April  21st,  1872,  another  solemn  ceremony  took  place  at 
St.  Boniface,  in  the  ordination  to  the  priesthood  of  Rev.  H.  A. 
Hellhake,  son  of  the  late  Caspar  Hellhake,  who  in  1850  had 
transferred  his  family  from  Bowinkel,  Hanover  to  Quincy,  be- 
coming members  of  St.  Boniface. 

But  amid  these  joyous  festivities  a  great  sorrow  was  be- 
ginning to  threaten  the  parish,  not  in  the  death,  but  in  the 
departure  of  the  beloved  Father  Schaefermeyer.  For  a  long  time 
it  had  been  his  desire  to  retire  from  the  turmoil  of  the  world  into 
the  seclusion  of  the  cloister,  and  now  that  his  plans  for  the 
beautifying  of  the  church  had  been  carried  out,  his  resolution 
assumed  new  strength  and  on  Sept.  23rd,  1872,  he  quietly  slipped 
away  from  Quincy  to  join  the  Franciscan  Order  at  Teutopolis, 
where  he  became  known  as  Father  Liborius. 

FATHER    OSTROP. 

The  Builder  of  the  School. 

Sept.  27th,  1872— Sept.  1st,  1877. 


The  first  record  of  Father  Francis  A.  Ostrop  in  the  church 
books,  indicating  the  time  of  his  arrival,  is  dated  Sept.  27th.  In 
November  he  received  as  his  assistant,  Father  J.  Rensmann, 
who  leaves  again  in  December,  and  is  succeeded  Jan.  20th,  1873- 
Oct.  7th,  1875,  by  Father  Theodore  Wegmann.  In  his  first  state- 
ment to  the  bishop,  compiled  at  the  end  of  1872,  Father  Ostrop 
gives  the  status  of  the  parish  as  follows:  Number  of  families  in 
the  parish,  500 ;  children  at  school,  460 ;  teachers  employed,  6 ; 


32  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


baptisms,  123;  burials,  62;  marriages,  20;  net  debt,  $4,950.00. 
Surely  a  parish  with  brightest  prospects  for  the  future.       So 
thought  Father  Ostrop,  and  with  characteristic  optimism  and 
enthusiasm  he  sets  out  at  once  to  plan  and  undertake  improve- 
ments.   The  subject  that  needs  the  first  attention  is  the  school, 
and  to  this  he  begins  to  devote  his  entire  energy.     In  a  meeting, 
Jan.  29th,  1873,  of  the  trustees    Hy.    Duerholt    and    Theodore 
Weltin,  and  the  directors  J.  Bernzen  and  Hy.  Stuckenborg,  it 
was  decided  to  buy  a  site  for  a  new  school  and  the  choice  fell 
upon  the  beautiful  Browning  place  with  233  front  on  the  south 
side  of  Hampshire  street  and  190  feet  depth  on  the  east  side  of 
Seventh  street,  occupied  by    a    large    two-story    brick    house, 
which  it  was  intended  later  to  convert  into  a  parsonage.       The 
consideration  was  $50,000.00,  to  be  paid  in  ten  installments  of 
$5,000.00,  with  interest  at  8  per  cent,  no  deed  being  drawn  up  at 
that  time,  but  only  an  "agreement"  signed  by  Father  Ostrop  and 
O.  H.  Browning,  and  dated  Feb.  1st,  1873.     In  August,  after  pay- 
ment of  $2,000.00  interest,  $5,000.00  of  the  original  price,  is  at 
the  urgent  request  of  our  pastor,  donated  to  the  church,  thus  re- 
ducing this  to  $45,000.00.    On  the  first  of  November  $5,000.00  of 
this  is  paid  off,  with  $900.00  interest.    At  a  meeting  of  the  church 
board  on  Dec.  1st,  it  is  decided  to  issue  notes  to  Mr.  Browning 
for  the  balance  due,  and  demand  of  him  a  deed  for  the  property, 
free  from  every  qualifying  clause ;  also  to  borrow  money  to  the 
extent  of  $50,000.00  at  the  lowest  rate  of  interest  possible.   This 
first  step  already  causes  consternation  in  the  parish,  and  delega- 
tion after  delegation  calls  upon  the  bishop  to  protest  against  the 
proceedings  and  even  to  level  charges  against  their  pastor.     But 
being  headed  in  most  instances  by  the  old  trouble-breeders  of 
Father  Brickwedde's  time,  the  bishop  pays  no  attention  to  these 
delegations  and  afterwards  refuses  even  to  receive  them.     This 
helps  to  bring  the  better  people  to  their  senses,  and  after  a  short 
time   quiet  is  restored,  whilst  Father  Ostrop  all  the  while  is 
making  plans  for  building.    That  same  year  the  pastor  took  up 
subscriptions  from  his  parishioners,  and  already  on  April  18th, 
1874,  ground  is  broken  for  a  structure  with  70  feet  front  and  90 
feet  depth,  the  basement  and  two  lower  stories  of  which  should 
consist  of  four  rooms  26x36  feet  each,  with  10  feet  corridors 
between;  whilst  the  third  story  is  to  contain  a  spacious  hall  50x90, 
flanked  on  the  south  side  by  a  stage  and  east  of  it  a  kitchen,  with 
a  small  observatory  to  crown  the  whole.    On  August  10th  the 


Assistant  'Bastors 


StBomface 
Church 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 33 

corner-stone  is  laid  by  Father  Ostrop  in  the  presence  of  all  Cath- 
olic societies  of  Quincy,  whom  he  and  Father  McGirr  address  in 
German  and  English  respectively.  Before  the  end  of  the  year 
the  new  school  building  is  under  roof;  during  the  following 
year  the  interior  is  finished,  and  on  Nov.  7th,  1875,  the  whole 
is  solemnly  dedicated  by  the  pastor  himself  in  the  presence  of 
thousands  of  spectators. 

The  cost  of  the  various  items  in  the  erection  of  this  building, 
as  contained  in  a  statement  of  Father  Ostrop,  dated  April  26th, 
1876,  was  as  follows:  Masonry,  $1,460.00;  stone  from  5  quarries, 
$6,095.00;  stone-cutting,  $12,127.00;  brick  (640,000),  $3,638.00; 
bricklaying,  $2,570.00 ;  lumber,  $7,700 ;  gas  and  water  connec- 
tions, $876.00;  wood-work,  $7,318.00;  hardware,  $3,200;  plaster- 
ing, $2,281.00;  sand,  lime  and  hauling,  $1,340.00;  glazing  and 
painting,  $1,474.00 ;  excavating  and  other  labor,  $1,196.00 ;  mak- 
ing a  total  of  $51,275.00  Towards  paying  off  this  sum,  the 
income  the  same  year  had  been  as  follows:  From  house  collec- 
tion and  donations,  $24,500.00 ;  from  fairs  and  entertainments, 
$11,358.00;  collection  at  laying  of  corner-stone,  $360.00;  whilst 
$9,600.00  raised  for  the  same  purpose  had  been  placed  into  the 
church  treasury,  thus  making  the  total  receipts  $45,818.00,  a  neat 
little  sum,  it  is  true,  but  $5,457.00  short  of  the  total  expense. 

On  July  25th,  1877,  occurred  the  ordination  of  Father 
Jerome  Hellhake,  O.  F.  M.,  son  of  Henry  Hellhake,  who  was  born 
in  Quincy,  Aug.  22nd,  1854,  and  is  the  first  native  priest  of  the 
city. 

Whilst  the  magnificent  school  building  was  going  up,  other 
matters  of  importance  were  not  neglected.  Father  Ostrop 
realized  full  well,  that  "the  boy  is  the  father  of  the  man,"  and 
hence  he  spared  no  effort  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  young 
men  of  the  parish.  The  Young  Men's  Society,  as  well  as  the 
Sodality,  which  he  sought  to  fuse  into  one,  received  special 
attention,  and  the  effect  was  a  revival  of  enthusiasm  on  the  part 
of  all  the  members,  that  made  the  achievement  of  great  things 
possible.  In  all  processions  with  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  the 
young  men  appeared  in  a  body,  about  150  out  of  170  usually  re- 
sponding. At  the  annual  fair  of  the  parish,  generally  in  the  fall 
of  the  year,  the  young  men  were  accustomed  to  conduct  a  furni- 
ture booth,  from  which  they  realized  as  much  as  $500.00. 
Dramatic  performances  were  given  at  regular  intervals,  and  the 


34  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


overwhelming  crowds  that  attended,  made  it  necessary  more 
than  once  to  engage  the  theatre,  on  which  occasions  usually  from 
$400.00  to  $500.00  were  cleared.  Even  a  musical  organization 
of  some  kind  was  created,  which  provided  several  concerts  a 
year,  besides  playing  at  the  various  parish  entertainments. 

Father  Ostrop  was  also  aware  of  the  tremendous  influence 
for  good  or  evil,  of  the  press.  Various  German  daily  papers 
had  been  published  in  Quincy  since  the  appearance 
of  the  "Stern  des  Westens"  ("The  Western  Star")  in 
1847.  The  "Courier",  published  in  1850,  was  succeeded 
for  eight  years  by  the  "Tribune" and  this,  during  Father  Ostrop's 
time,  by  the  "Westliche  Presse"  ("The  Western  Press").  Ob- 
serving that  this  paper  was  being  made  the  vehicle  of  bigotry 
and  infidelity,  our  zealous  pastor,  toward  the  end  of  1873,  pre- 
vailed upon  a  number  of  wealthy  Catholics  to  buy  it  out;  and 
under  the  title  "Quincy  Germania,"  and  with  Dr.  G.  C.  Hoff- 
mann as  editor,  its  publication  was  continued,  rendering  valuable 
service  to  the  Church  in  Quincy  not  only  by  refuting  the  preju- 
dice and  errors  prevalent  in  those  days,  but  also  by  keeping  other 
objectionable  papers,  like  the  "Teutonia"  of  later  origin,  out  of 
the  field.  The  "Quincy  Germania"  still  exists  as  a  daily  paper, 
and  is  now  ably  edited  for  the  last  25  years  by  the  scholarly 
Henry  Bornmann. 

In  1874  Father  Ostrop  enlarged  the  sacristy  by  adding  8  feet 
to  the  western  side,  and  connected  it  by  means  of  a  door  with 
the  chapel.  In  the  same  year  $506.00  was  spent  to  improve  the 
roads  of  the  cemetery  and  to  enclose  the  whole  with  a  new  fence. 
A  crib  was  also  ordered  from  Munich  at  the  cost  of  $102.00, 
which  was  defrayed  by  the  members  of  the  Ladies'  Society,  into 
who>se  treasury  from  Oct  10th,  1872-Jan  1st,  1875,  also  flowed  the 
receipts  of  the  Young  Ladies'  Society  and  St.  John's  Society,  so 
that  all  three  organizations  deserve  credit  also  for  other  dona- 
tions made  during  that  time,  such  as  the  large  monstrance  now 
in  general  use,  bought  for  $200.00,  in  1872 ;  a  cope  costing  $200. 
in  1873 ;  besides  vestments,  altar  laces,  vases,  flowers,  candle- 
sticks, cruets,  amounting  to  hundreds  of  dollars. 

On  Sept.  19th,  1875-1876,  Father  L.  Quitter  came  as  assist- 
ant to  Father  Ostrop,  and  remained  till  Dec.  3rd,  1876,  whilst 
Father  F.  Reinhart  was  here  for  the  second  time  from  Aug.  20th, 
1876,  to  Oct.  24th,  1877. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 35 

On  April  5th,  1876,  Father  Ostrop,  with  a  view  of  eventu- 
ally building  a  new  church  and  parsonage,  bought  another  piece 
of  property,  immediately  east  of  the  school  site,  with  87  feet 
front  on  Hampshire  street  and  190  feet  depth  on  Eighth  street, 
occupied  by  a  substantial  two-story  brick  building,  originally  a 
Methodist  female  seminary,  now  the  headquarters  of  St.  Boni- 
face Social  Club,  as  well  as  another  two-story  building,  like- 
wise of  brick,  used  heretofore  as  a  private  residence,  and  since 
then  rented  out  by  the  congregation  to  Dr.  Rooney,  Dr.  John- 
ston and  Dr.  Brenner  in  succession.  The  consideration  was  $15,- 
000.00,  of  which  $5.000.00  was  to  be  paid  in  cash,  $5,000.00  after 
one  year,  and  the  balance  after  two  years  with  interest  at  10  per 
cent.  This  deal  was  made  in  the  names  of  ten  ladies,  with  whom 
afterwards  about  70  others  became  associated  under  the  title  "St. 
Anne's  School  Society,"  and  who  were  to  pay  25  cents  a  month 
until  such  a  time  when  the  property  could  be  transferred  to  the 
parish ;  which  became  necessary  already  in  May,  1877,  when 
the  income  of  the  society  had  fallen  short  $200.00  of  even  the 
interest  due  on  the  place.  Father  Ostrop  was  not  discouraged  by 
the  heavy  debts  contracted  in  consequence  of  the  improvements 
made  at  St.  Boniface,  and  those  who  knew  him  best  are  of  the 
opinion  that,  had  he  been  given  an  opportunity,  he  would  soon 
have  erected  a  new  church  and  parsonage  in  keeping  with  the 
magnificent  school,  and  what  is  more,  would  have  devised  some 
means  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  to  pay  for  all.  The  bishop,  how- 
ever, saw  fit  to  call  a  halt,  at  least  for  a  time,  and  to  the  sincere 
regret  of  his  parishioners,  their  enterprising  pastor  was  removed 
to  Carlinville,  Sept.  1st,  1877,  and  in  his  stead  none  less  than 
the  affable  and  genial  Father  John  Janssen,  then  vicar-general 
and  chancellor  of  the  Alton  Diocese,  now  Bishop  of  Belleville, 
was  sent  as  pastor  to  St.  Boniface. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  FATHER  JANSSEN. 

The  Conciliator  of  St.  Boniface. 

Sept.  1st,  1877— Dec.  31st,  1879. 


The  total  debt  of  the  parish  was  placed  by  Father  Janssen, 
in  his  first  statement  of  Jan.  10th,  1878,  at  $82,368.00,  with 
$3,028.64  in  the  treasury,  leaving  a  net  debt  of  $79,339.36;  to 


36  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


which,  however,  must  be  added  outstanding  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $2,300,  which  seem  to  have  been  overlooked  at  the 
time,  thus  making  the  actual  indebtedness  $81,639.36.  Through 
his  kind  and  gentle  ways  Father  Janssen  soon  won  the  love  and 
confidence  of  all  his  parishioners,  who  worked  hand  in  hand  with 
their  new  pastor,  and  in  the  course  of  a  year  the  interest  on  most 
of  the  borrowed  money  had  been  reduced  from  8  and  10  per  cent 
to  6  per  cent,  which,  in  the  long  run  meant  more  than  $10,000  re- 
duction of  the  actual  debt.  This  debt  was  somewhat  increased  in 
1878,  when  it  became  necessary  to  buy  additional  property  for 
the  cemetery,  lots  1,  2,  3  and  4  in  block  4  of  F.  Baker's  addition 
having  been  agreed  upon  for  $2,000.00,  (consecrated  in  the  ab- 
sence of  Bishop  Baltes  by  his  administrator,  Father  Janssen 
himself).  For  the  purpose  of  getting  loans  at  a  still  lower 
rate  of  interest,  Father  Janssen  on  August  1st,  1878,  or- 
ganized the  "St.  John's  Savings  Association,"  (St.  Jos- 
hannes  Sparkassen  Verein")  whose  members,  divided  into  four 
different  classes,  were  to  deposit  $1.00,  50c,  25c  and  lOc  a  month 
respectively,  and  draw  interest  at  the  rate  of  4  per  cent.,  but 
only  after  accumulating  a  capital  of  $50,00,  $25.00,  $15.00  and 
$10.00,  according  to  their  respective  classes.  By  means  of  this 
society,  not  only  the  rate  of  interest  on  money  loaned  was  con- 
siderably reduced,  but  thousands  of  dollars  were  deposited  which 
drew  no  interest  at  all. 

But  Father  Janssen  was  not  only  a  thorough  business  man 
who  knew  how  to  grapple  with  financial  problems;  he  was  first 
of  all  a  man  of  God,  and  as  such  did  wonders  in  perfecting  all  the 
details  of  divine  service,  and  advancing  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
his  flock.  In  Dec.  1878,  he  invited  the  Jesuit  Fathers  Becker, 
Wochner  and  Kamp  to  hold  a  mission,  through  which  much 
good  was  accomplished,  and  during  which  also  the  "Apostleship 
of  Prayer"  was  introduced  into  the  parish. 

Father  Janssen  was  ably  assisted  by  Father  A.  Breinlinger, 
who  came  to  Quincy  Sept.  9th,  1877,  and  remained  until  Aug. 
3rd,  1878,  and  by  Father  Cornelius  Hoffmans  who  was  here 
from  Aug.  13th,  1877,  until  Oct.  27th,  1885.  In  IVfay,  1878,  when 
the  teacher,  Jasper,  left  for  Germany,  his  class  was  turned  over 
to  the  sisters,  who  now  had  charge  of  the  entire  school,  whilst 
Father  Spaeth  became  second  assistant  and  directed  the  choir. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Father  Janssen  was  organized  the 


REV.  ANTHONY  G.  KUNSCH. 

Present  Assists' nt  at  St.  Boniface. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 37_ 

"Western  Catholic  Union,"  a  fraternal  insurance  society,  now 
well-known  and  widely  spread  in  four  states,  and  well  deserving 
the  confidence  of  its  10,000  members  as  well  as  the  general 
public.  The  Supreme  Council  was  formed  in  October,  and  on 
Dec.  20th  appleid  to  Springfield  for  incorporation  with  the  privi- 
lege of  organizing  subordinate  branches,  which  was  granted  Dec. 
27th.  The  application  bore  the  following  signatures:  Anton  H. 
Heine,  Pres. ;  Henry  Steinkamp,  Vice-Pres. ;  Julius  Becker,  Sec. 
retary ;  A.  B.  Hellhake,  Asst.  Secretary ;  Anton  Binkert,  Treas. ; 
with  Geo.  Terdenge,  Jos.  Jacoby,  Louis  Stern,  John  Heine  and 
Michael  Ullmann  as  Trustees.  On  Nov.  1st,  1877,  St.  Nicholas 
Branch  No.  1,  the  first,  and  until  March  1879,  the  only  subordi- 
nate society,  was  organized,  and  on  Feb.  20th,  1878,  incorpor- 
porated,  after  electing  the  following  to  office:  John  J.  Metzger, 
Pres. ;  C.  G.  Hoffmann,  Vice-Pres. ;  Hy.  Moller,  Fin.  Sec. ;  Jos.  A. 
Lubbe,  Rec.  Sec. ;  Hy.  Ant.  Oenning,  Treas. ;  H.  B.  Menke,  Geo. 
Metzger,  John  Mjueller,  Ben  Schupp  and  Carl  Heckle,  Trustees. 
The  headquarters  of  this  branch  are  still  at  St.  Boniface. 

During  the  administration  of  Father  Janssen,  provision 
began  to  be  made  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  colored  popula- 
tion of  the  city.  When  Father  Michael  Richardt,  O.  F.  M;.,  who 
later  became  Provincial,  desired  to  organize  the  negroes 
into  a  parish,  the  old  Protestant  church  on  Seventh  and  Jersey 
streets,  that  had  served  for  school  purposes  for  St.  Boniface  until 
the  time  of  Father  Ostrop,  was  graciously  put  at  his  disposal  by 
the  zealous  Father  Janssen,  and  on  Feb.  llth,  1878,  a  Catholic 
negro  school  was  opened  with  Sister  Herlinda  of  the  Order  of 
Notre  Dame  as  teacher,  whilst  religious  instruction  had  already 
been  given  there  from  Oct.  21st  of  the  previous  year.  These 
efforts  in  behalf  of  the  poor  neglected  negroes  soon  bore  good 
fruits,  so  much  so  that  some  of  the  Protestant  church  workers 
became  alarmed  and  went  so  far  as  to  voice  indignant  protests 
against  the  Catholic  inroads  amongst  the  colored  population. 
When  Father  Michael,  by  order  of  his  superiors,  gave  up  his 
charge,  his  good  work  was  continued  with  great  self-sacrifice  by 
Fathers  Bruener,  Hoffmans,  Budde  and  Pesch  of  St.  Boniface, 
until  July  26,  1886,  when  Father  August  Tolton,  the  first  colored 
priest  in  the  United  States,  was  officially  installed  by  Father 
Bruener  as  the  regular  pastor  of  "St.  Joseph's  Negro  Church." 

Father  Janssen,  loved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 


38  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


did  not  remain  long  at  Quincy.  The  bishop  needed  him  at  Alton 
and  on  Dec.  31st,  he  was  recalled,  and  Father  Theodore  Bruener, 
pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Dec.  28th,  1867-May  1st,  1873,  and 
since  then  Rector  of  the  Catholic  Normal  School  at  Milwaukee 
(organized  in  1871  by  Dr.  Salzmann)  was  sent  to  St.  Boniface  in 
his  stead. 

PASTORATE  OF  FATHER  BRUENER. 

The  Historian  of  St.  Boniface. 

Dec.  31st,  1879— Nov.  lOth,  1887. 


The  principal  aim  of  Father  Bruener  during  his  sojourn  of 
eight  years  at  St.  Boniface,  was  to  continue  the  good  work  of 
his  predecessor  in  reducing  the  enormous  debt  of  the  parish, 
which  according  to  the  statement  of  the  latter,  dated  Dec.  29th, 
1879,  was  $91,866.00,  with  $8,887.55  in  the  treasury,  leaving  a  net 
indebtedness  of  $82,978.45,  an  increase  of  $1,339.09  since  his  first 
account  of  Jan.  10th,  1878,  due  to  the  fact  that  $2,341.45  had  been 
paid,  as  stated  above,  to  extend  the  cemetery.  This  amount  was 
gradually  reduced  by  Father  Bruener,  until  his  own  last  state- 
ment, Jan.  1st,  1887,  shows  it  to  be  only  $52,566.70,  of  which 
nearly  $2,000  more  was  paid  off  before  he  left  towards  the  end  of 
that  year.  A  good  beginning  in  this  direction  was  made  in  1881, 
when  Father  Bruener,  following  the  example  of  the  banks  re- 
duced the  rate  of  interest  on  all  money  loaned,  from  6  and  8  per 
cent  to  4  per  cent,  a  procedure  that  saved  the  parish  about  $1,000 
the  very  first  year.  When  the  banks  in  1882  made  a  further 
reduction  of  1  per  cent,  in  interest  on  deposits,  our  wary  pastor 
again  was  quick  to  follow,  with  the  result  that  another  great  an- 
nual saving  was  made.  Father  Bruener  knew  also  how  to  econ- 
omize and  thus  saved  hundreds  of  dollars  in  expenditures.  As 
teacher  and  organist,  he  brought  with  him  from  Milwaukee  a 
young  student,  Jos.  Sommer,  whom  he  gave  a  salary  of  $350.00, 
with  free  board  at  the  parsonage,  for  which  he  charged  the  parish 
only  $100.00  a  year.  The  bishop  also  agreed  to  reduce  the 
"Cathedraticum"  for  St.  Boniface  from  5  to  4  per  cent  of  its  in- 
come. With  the  reduction  of  expenses  came  also  an  increase  in 
the  receipts,  owing  partly  to  the  improvement  of  the  times, 
which  of  the  last  few  years  had  been  very  bad.  The  pew  rent 
rose  about  $1,000.00  a  year,  the  Sunday  collections  several  hun- 
dred, the  house  rent  about  $400.00,  and  a  number  of  small 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 39 

bequests  and  donations  were  made.  Father  Bruener  also  took 
up  three  house  collections  (in  1880,  1881  and  1882)  and  had  two 
others  taken  up  by  his  assistants  (in  1884  and  1886),  which  to- 
gether yielded  about  $17,000.00.  The  members  of  the  Ladies' 
Society  showed  again  their  noble,  generous  spirit,  by  donating 
annually  for  six  years  the  sum  of  $500.00  to  help  pay  off  the  debt. 
Entertainments  by  the  St.  Joseph  Young  Men's  Society,  dinners 
served  by  the  ladies  and  young  ladies,  etc.,  also  greatly  increased 
the  income  of  the  parish. 

But  after  this  general  survey  of  his  work,  let  us  follow 
Father  Bruener,  step  by  step,  and  see  what  else  transpired 
during  his  stay  at  St.  Boniface.  Beginning  with  1880,  we  find 
our  pastor,  in  the  summer  of  the  year,  making  a  trip  to  Europe, 
in  the  course  of  which  he  also  goes  to  Rome,  where  he  has  the 
privilege  of  an  audience  with  the  Holy  Father,  obtaining  from 
him  the  faculty  of  imparting  on  his  return  to  Quincy  the  "Papal 
Blessing"  to  his  parishioners,  to  which  is  attached  a  plenary  in- 
dulgence for  all  who  receive  the  sacraments. 

Great  crowds  availed  themselves  of  this  concession,  for  the 
dispensing  of  which  the  Sunday  before  the  Feast  of  All  Saints 
had  been  selected,  and  three  priests  were  kept  busy  the  day  be- 
fore, from  early  morning  until  late  at  night,  in  hearing  their 
confessions.  A  special  collection  taken  up  on  this  occasion  for 
the  Holy  Father  and  sent  to  him  through  Mgr.  De  Waal, 
brought  a  letter  of  thanks,  dated  Jan.  llth,  1881,  and  signed  by 
his  secretary,  Cardinal  Jacobini. 

Whilst  on  his  trip  aboar,,  Father  Bruener  became 
acquainted  with  a  certain  Mr.  Harrach  of  Munich,  considered  the 
best  gold-smith  in  the  country,  from  whom  he  ordered  the  so- 
called  "Tumba"  or  repository,  which  is  used  on  Holy  Thursday 
and  which  stands  without  an  equal  in  the  land.  It  is  made  of 
solid  copper,  plated  with  gold,  and  represents  a  Romanesque 
church  of  cross  design  28  inches  wide  and  12  inches  deep,  sur- 
mounted at  the  center  by  a  cupola.  The  whole  is  adorned  with 
exquisite  hand  engraving  and  profusely  studded  with  precious 
jewels.  Its  price  $387.76  was  paid  by  the  Ladies'  Society  soon 
after  its  arrival  in  1881. 

On  July  4th,  1880,  St.  Boniface  Church  had  been. the  scene 
of  another  First  Mass,  celebrated  by  Father  Fred.  Ellshorst,  who 
was  not,  however,  a  son  of  the  parish. 


40  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


In  September  1880  Oscar  P.  Huck  was  engaged  as  teacher 
for  the  lower  grade  of  boys  to  assist  Mr.  Sommer,  who  was  in 
charge  of  the  higher  grade;  and  when  the  latter,  on  account  of 
ill  health  was  compelled  to  resign,  the  former  succeeded  him  as 
sole  lay  teacher  of  the  school,  a  Sister  taking  the  place  of  the 
second  one.  For  eight  years  Mr.  Huck  held  out  in  this  exacting 
position,  and  his  very  efficient  work  in  the  class  room,  as  well  as 
the  excellent  music  rendered  under  his  direction  in  church,  had 
won  for  him  the  respect  and  admiration  of  every  parishioner, 
when  a  splendid  opportunity  to  engage  in  business  caused  him  to 
resign  his  position,  Aug.  25th,  1888,  which,  however,  he  has  tem- 
porarily filled  again  on  many  occasions,  being  always  ready  to 
help  out  in  an  emergency. 

In  1881  a  piece  of  property  adjacent  to  the  cemetery  was 
offered  for  sale,  which  together  with  that  already  owned  by  the 
parish  would  form  a  square  and  also  lessen  the  possibility  of  its 
being  divided  by  the  laying  out  of  Kentucky  street,  and  the  site 
was  bought  for  a  consideration  of  $350.00. 

On  April  21st,  1881,  was  organized  another  branch  of  the 
Western  Catholic  Union  with  headquarters  at  St.  Boniface,  it 
being  St.  Peter's  Branch  No.  16,  whose  first  officers,  elected 
April  25,  were  the  following:  Anton  H.  Heine,  Pres ;  Edw.  Sohm, 
Sr.,  Vice-Pres. ;  Thos.  Binkert,  Fin.  Secretary ;  John  Siepker, 
Rec.  Sec. ;  Jos.  Lubbe,  Treasurer  and  John  Sohm,  Anton  Zim- 
mermann,  Bern.  Heuer,  J.  Mast,  and  J.  Lennert,  Trustees.. 

In  1882,  just  before  the  opening  of  the  Forty  Hours  Devo- 
tion, a  beautiful  present  was  made  to  the  church  by  the  mem- 
mers  of  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodality,  in  the  form  of  a  large,  new 
sanctuary  lamp  in  Romanesque  style,  imported  from  Germany 
for  $75.00,  which  has,  however,  since  then  been  replaced  by  a 
more  pretentious  one  and  is  now  doing  duty  in  St.  Joseph's 
Church  on  Columbus  Road. 

On  July  21st  of  this  year  bids  were  opened  for  the  construc- 
tion of  a  new  tower  on  the  church,  the  old  one  having  suffered 
from  the  elements  and  its  age  and  become  so  unsafe  that  it  had 
to  be  removed.  Mr.  Schenk  received  the  contract,  which  in- 
cluded also  raising  the  bells  to  a  higher  place  in  the  tower,  and 
carried  with  it  an  expenditure  of  $4,135.00.  The  work  was  sub- 
let by  MT.  Schenck,  to  various  other  bidders,  the  brick-work  being 
given  to  Bernzen  &  Michael,  the  slating  to  Mr.  Fortkamp,  the 


PROF.  JOHN  KIEFFER, 

Present  Teacher,  Organist,  Choir,  Orchestra  and  Band 
Director  at  St.  Boniface. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


stone-work  to  Menke  &  Co.  It  was  not  completed  till  1883, 
when  the  last  slating  was  put  on  the  point  of  the  spire  and  the 
large  cross  was  regilded,  and  equipped  with  a  lightning  rod  which 
cost  $83.50.  In  this  year  the  tower  clock,  with  four  dials  cor- 
responding to  the  four  points  of  the  compass,  and  one  inside  the 
church  for  the  special  benefit  of  long-winded  preachers  was  in- 
stalled by  Mr.  Pohlhaus  of  St.  Louis  for  $112.45,  and  even  to  the 
present  day  this  good  old  timepiece  is  doing  faithful  service  for 
the  accommodation  of  thousands  of  people  daily,  who  have 
been  accustomed  to  depend  upon  it  and  show  the  greatest  con- 
cern as  soon  as  something  accidentally  goes  wrong. 

The  wood-work  on  the  exterior  of  the  church  was  also  re- 
painted at  a  cost  of  $156.00,  the  school  was  equipped  with  a 
fire-escape  which  cost  $127.00,  whilst  improvements  to  the 
amount  of  $431.00  on  the  old  female  seminary  building  consisted 
in  partitioning  the  greater  part  of  its  large  hall  into  smaller 
rooms,  which  for  years  brought  in  considerable  rent. 

The  old  school  house  west  of  the  church,  which  from  its 
very  origin  was  only  a  makeshift,  had  in  the  meantime  become 
intolerable  on  account  of  dampness  as  well  as  the  lack  of  light 
and  fresh  air,  and  Henry  Tushaus,  who  offered  $250.00  for  the 
material,  was  ordered  to  wreck  it  and  remove  it. 

On  Oct.  1st  of  this  year  Father  F.  Budde  came  to  Quincy 
and,  together  with  Father  Hoffmans,  was  assistant  to  Father 
Bruener  until  Sept.  1st,  1885. 

During  the  year  1883  occurred  also  the  ordination  and  First 
Mass  of  two  young  men  born  within  the  limits  of  St.  Boniface. 
The  first  of  these  was  Rev.  Francis  Lubbe,  S.  J.,  son  of  the  late 
Anton  Jos.  Lubbe,  who  came  into  the  world  Jan.  29th,  1855,  and 
after  receiving  private  instruction  from  Father  Reinhart  and 
attending  St.  Francis  College,  made  his  higher  studies  in 
Emmetsburg  and  joined  the  Jesuits  in  New  York  in  1879,  was 
ordained  priest  at  Santa  Fe,  April  24th,  1883,  and  died  already 
Jan.  10th  of  the  following  year.  The  other  was  Rev.  Maurus 
Brink,  O.  F.  Ml,  son  of  B.  H.  Brink,  who  was  born  here  Nov. 
26th,  1856,  began  his  studies  at  Milwaukee  in  1874,  became  a 
Franciscan  Sept.  7th,  1877,  received  his  ordination  May  12th, 
1883,  and  celebrated  his  First  Mass  at  Mary's  Church  on  the 
following  day. 

In  1884  a  new  roof  and  new  gutters  became  necessary  for 


42  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


the  church,  which  cost  $608.65,  whilst  the  altars  were  repainted 
and  regilded  at  a  cost  of  $144.80  and  the  organ  repaired  for 
$65.00.  In  the  same  year  the  wood-work  of  the  school  building 
was  repainted  at  a  cost  of  $195.85,  and  the  school-grounds  were 
enclosed  with  an  iron  fence,  costing  $497.95. 

On  Dec.  6th  of  this  year  occurred  the  25th  anniversary  of 
the  First  Mass  of  Father  Bruener,  celebrated  in  Muenster,  West- 
phalia, and  the  occasion  was  fittingly  observed  with  special 
festivities  in  church  and  in  the  school  hall.  The  different  socie- 
ties of  the  parish  vied  with  each  other  in  remembering  their 
zealous  pastor,  and  amongst  the  many  valuable  gifts  received, 
was  also  a  check  for  $722.10,  which  was,  however,  placed  into  the 
treasury  of  the  church.  The  clergy  of  seven  different  dioceses 
were  represented  at  this  occasion,  and  added  special  dignity  to 
the  celebration. 

On  Christmas  Day  of  this  year,  occurs  the  First  Mass  of 
Rev.  Clement  Johannes,  son  of  the  late  Clement  Johannes,  Sr., 
who  was  born  April  10th,  1860,  and  after  taking  private  instruc- 
tions from  Fathers  Wegmann,  Reinhart  and  Ostrop  continued  his 
studies  at  Milwaukee  and  later  at  Montreal,  where  he  was  or- 
dained December  20th,- 1884. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1885,  two  more  sons  of  St.  Boni- 
face were  raised  to  the  holy  priesthood  and  celebrated  their 
First  Mass  at  their  mother  church.  The  first  of  these  was  Rev. 
J.  B.  Oeinck,  son  of  late  Hy.  Oeinck,  born  Dec.  17th,  1858, 
who  made  his  studies  at  St.  Francis  College  of  this  city  and  at 
Emmetsburg  near  Baltimore,  where  he  was  ordained  some  time 
in  August,  after  which  he  returned  to  Quincy  to  bring  his  First 
Offering  to  God  on  the  30th,  of  the  same  month.  The  other 
was  Rev.  Jos.  Hummert,  son  of  John  Hummert,  who  was  born 
March  24th,  1860,  began  his  studies  privately  under  Father  Rein- 
hart,  continued  them  at  Milwaukee,  and  after  his  elevation  to 
the  priestly  dignity  at  Davenport,  Sept.  19th,  celebrated  his 
First  Mass  here  at  St.  Boniface,  Sept.  20th. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year  the  old  wooden  cross  with  its  plat- 
form and  kneeling  bench,  that  stood  at  the  intersection  of  the  two 
main  roads  in  the  cemetery,  and  had  suffered  greatly  from  time 
and  exposure,  was  replaced  by  the  beautiful  Crucifixion  Group 
that  now  marks  the  spot,  and  is  not  only  the  centre  of  attraction 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 43 

for  all  visitors,  but  also  the  incentive  to  many  a  fervent  prayer 
that  is  poured  forth  there  for  the  dear  ones  who  rest  beneath  its 
shadow.  The  altar  and  the  cross  of  this  beautiful  monument  are 
of  stone  and  were  set  up  by  the  parish,  whilst  the  life-size  figures 
of  Christ,  the  Sorrowful  Mother  and  the  Beloved  Disciple,  are  of 
zinc  and  were  donated  by  an  unknown  party.  The  whole  was 
dedicated  on  All  Souls'  Day  of  the  same  year,  by  Father  Vincent, 
O.  F.  M.,  Provincial  of  the  Order,  in  the  presence  of  all  the 
local  German  priests  and  a  great  concourse  of  the  laity  from 
every  part  of  the  city.  In  setting  up  this  beautiful  shrine,  Father 
Bruener  cherished  the  hope  that  some  generous  lover  of  the 
Poor  Souls  would  eventually  enclose  it  with  a  chapel,  so  that  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  could  be  offered  there  on  certain  occasions. 

The  principal  item  of  expense  this  year,  besides  the  ordi- 
nary, was  $168.30  for  a  new  sidewalk  on  Hampshire  street  be- 
tween Seventh  and  Eighth ;  whilst  the  next  year,  1886,  a  similar 
improvement  became  necessary  around  the  church  and  on  the 
Mjaine  street  side  of  the  old  cemetary  property,  which  caused 
an  expenditure  of  $176.00  and  $100.00  respectively. 

On  Feb.  15th,  1886  occured  at  Alton,  the  death  of  Bishop 
Baltes,  for  whom  a  Solemn  Requiem  was  held  at  St.  Boniface 
on  February  22nd,  the  entire  church  having  been  draped  in 
black  and  white  as  an  expression  of  the  sorrow  that  prevailed  at 
the  demise  of  the  venerable  prelate. 

In  the  course  of  this  year,  some  parts  of  the  decoration  of 
the  church,  that  had  suffered  greatly  from  the  soot  of  the  stoves 
with  which  the  church  was  then  heated,  were  retouched,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  adjoining  sacristy,  as  also  the  sodality 
chapel  in  the  school  building,  were  frescoed,  the  entire  work  be- 
ing done  by  Mr.  Loeffler  of  Milwaukee.  The  expense  for  the 
chapel,  which  was  $150.00,  was  born  conjointly  by  the 
Ladies'  Society  and  the  Young  Men's  and  Young  Ladies' 
Sodalities.  About  the  same  time  a  pious  lady  donated  a 
beautiful  statue  of  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  the  work 
of  Mr.  Schneiderhahn  of  St.  Louis,  which  was  placed  in  the  niche 
of  the  chapel  altar  that  had  been  installed  already  before,  and 
there  it  continues  to  exert  its  influence  in  exciting  to  true  devo- 
tion all  the  children  of  Mary,  who  gather  about  it  for  their 
monthly  meetings. 

On  July  18th  of  this  year  occured  an  event  at  St.  Boniface 


44  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


which  drew  upon  it  the  eyes  of  the  Catholics  and  non-Catholics 
of  the  entire  country.     It  was  the  Initial     Sacrifice    of     Father 
August  Tolton,  the  first  negro  priest  in     the     United     States. 
Father  Tolton,  born  April  1st,  1854,  was  the  son  of  slave  par- 
ents of  Rails  Co.,  Mo.,  his  father,  Peter  Paul  Tolton  having 
been  received  into  the  church  by  Father  Lefevre  on  one  of  his 
missionary  trips,  whilst  his  mother,  originally  from  Kentucky, 
had  been  baptized  already  as  a  child.     When  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  War  his  father  fled  and  joined  the  Union  Army,  his 
mother  with  her  three  children  of  whom  the  oldest  was  nine 
years,  he  seven  years  and  the    youngest    20    months,    likewise 
took  to  flight,  and  after  crossing  the  river  at  Hannibal  found  her 
way  to  Quincy,  where  August  found  work  in  a  tobacco  factory. 
Later  however  he  was  sent  to  St.  Boniface  School,  where  he 
also  learned  to  speak  the  German  language;  afterwards  he  at- 
tended classes  at  St.   Peters,  where   Father   McGirr  first  dis- 
covered evidences  of  a  vocation  to  the  holy  priesthood.      After 
taking  private  instructions  from  different  priests  of  Quincy,  he 
was  sent  to  Rome  to  be  educated  at  the  Propaganda,  where  he 
was  ordained  priest,  April  24th,  1886  by  Cardinal  Parochi,  and 
sent  back  as  missionary  for  the  negroes  in  the  United  States. 
His  First  Holy  Mass,  celebrated  at  St.  Boniface  Church,  where 
formerly  he  had  served  as  an  altar  boy,  was  a  gala  occasion  for 
the  people  of  Quincy,  who  crowded  the  church  as  had  never 
been    witnessed    before.      Father    Anselm    Mueller,  O.  F.  M., 
Rector  of  St.  Francis  College,  contributed  to  the  solemnity  of 
the  occasion  by  delivering  a  most  impressive  sermon.     On  July 
26th,  1886,  as  stated  above,  Father  Tolton  was  officially  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  "black  sheep"  of  the  flock  of  Christ  in  Quincy,  in 
which  capacity  he  labored  with  Apostolic  zeal  until  Nov.  28, 
1889,  when  on  account  of  the  apathy  indifference  of  his  charges, 
he  was  transferred  by  his  superiors  to  a  more  promising  field 
in  Chicago.     Here  he  held  service  for  his  people  in  St.  Mary's 
Church,  until  a  gift  of  $10,000  by  Mrs.  Anne  O'Neill  of  that  city, 
where  he  continued  his  good  work  amongst  the  members  of  his 
race,  until  a  sunstroke  caused  his  death,  July  9th,    1897.         His 
remains  were  brought  to  Quincy  where,     after     solemn     burial 
service  was  held  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  they  were  interred  at  St. 
Peter's  Cemetery,  there  to  wait  the  final  summons  of  Him,  be- 
fore whom  there  is  no  distinction  of  color  or   race,   who   is   the 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 45 

Universal  Father  of  all,  and  has  called  his  children  from  all  the 
corners  of  the  earth  to  a  common  heritage  in  heaven. 

From  July  27th  till  Aug.  6th  of  this  year,  Prof.  John  Singen- 
berger,  President  of  the  American  Cecilia  Society,  arranged  a 
course  of  lectures  on  church  music  at  St.  Boniface,  which  was 
attended  by  over  forty  priests  and  laymen  from  every  part  of  the 
country,  who  were  most  hospitably  received  and  entertained  es- 
pecially by  the  members  of  the  church  choir.  The  order  of  the 
day  was  as  follows:  At  7.:30  A.  M.  Holy  Mass;  from  8  to  9  A. 
M.,  lecture  on  the  theory  of  music;  from  9  to  10  A.  M.  lecture 
on  the  sacred  liturgy ;  from  10 :30  to  12  A.  M.  lecture  on  plain 
chant;  from  2  to  3  P.  M.  lecture  on  the  accompaniment  of  plain 
chant ;  from  3  to  4  P.  Ml  lecture  on  musical  direction ;  from  4 :30 
to  6  P.  M.  exercises  in  direction ;  8  P.  M.  rehearsal  of  plain  chant. 
The  lectures  on  the  sacred  liturgy  were  held  by  Fathers  Locher, 
Wienker  and  Bruener.  On  the  last  evening  of  the  course, 
a  sacred  concert  was  given  in  church  followed  by  a  short  sermon 
and  Benediction  with  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament,  after  which 
a  social  gathering  was  held  at  the  school  hall,  which  was  great- 
ly enjoyedjby  all  who  were  present.  Before  returning  to  their 
homes,  the  assembled  teachers  were  invited  to  return  the  next 
year  on  the  occasion  of  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  the  parish.  The 
invitation  was  accepted,  and  at  the  proper  time,  the  gentlemen 
were  present  in  full  number  and  contributed  greatly  towards  the 
solemnity  of  the  celebration  with  the  beautiful  songs  which 
they  rendered  as  well  as  the  good  cheer  which  they  diffused 
amongst  the  crowd. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year  1886,  another  very  successful 
mission  occured  at  St.  Boniface,  which  was  conducted  by  the 
Jesuit  Fathers  Schnitzler,  Simeon  and  Suermann,  and  lasted 
from  December  5th,  to  14th. 

In  the  spring  of  1887  an  important  improvement  was  made 
on  the  third  floor  of  the  school.  The  stage,  which  hitherto  had 
occupied  the  south  side  of  the  hall,  was  changed  to  the 
east,  whilst  the  space  thus  vacated  was  partitioned  into  several 
rooms  to  be  used  for  kitchen,  pantry,  dining  room,  etc.,  with  the 
result  that  the  facilities  for  elaborate  entertainments  were  great- 
ly increased  and  the  acoustics  of  the  hall,  which  had  been  very 
bad,  were  much  improved.  The  plans  for  the  change  were 
drawn  by  architect  Tubesing.  The  entire  contract,  except 


46  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


painting,  was  awarded  to  Gottlieb  Burge  for  $690.00,  the  paint- 
ing by  John  Sohm  was  to  cost  $150.00.  At  this  same  time  gas 
and  water  connections  were  also  made  in  the  building,  which 
entailed  an  additional  outlay  of  $100.00.  Just  then  the  so-called 
"Park  Theatre",  on  Fourth  and  Maine  streets  had  gone  into 
bankruptcy,  and  when  its  splendid  stage  equipment  was  thrown 
on  the  market,  it  was  bought  by  the  parish  for  $225.00.  To 
defray  the  expenses  for  these  improvements,  St.  Joseph  Young 
Men's  Society  donated  $100.00;  St.  Boniface  Society,  St.  Nich- 
olas Branch  W.  C.  U.  and  Hi.  F.  J.  Ricker  followed  each  with 
$100.00,  and  the  balance,  with  the  exception  of  about  $200.00, 
was  collected  by  Father  Pesch  from  other  individuals.  The  re- 
modeled hall  was  opened  May  24th,  with  a  performance  by  the 
Dramatic  Club.  In  the  same  year  a  new  marble  floor  was  laid 
in  the  sacristy  on  the  west  side  of  the  church  and  in  the  vestibule 
under  the  tower,  by  a  St.  Louis  firm,  Pickel  &  Co.  for  $400.00, 
a  part  of  which  was  paid  by  the  Ladies'  Society.  A  new  com- 
munion rail  was  also  ordered  from  Henry  Schenk  for  $168.00, 
of  which  Mrs.  Frances  Hense  paid  $100.00 ;  whilst  repairs  on  the 
organ  cost  $130.00. 

On  June  12th  of  this  year  the  parishioners  of  St.  Boniface 
were  privileged  to  attend  another  First  Mass,  which  was  cele- 
brated by  Father  Bernard  Schlotmann,  who  was  born  in  Olden- 
burg, August  7th,  1860,  began  his  studies  privately,  came  to 
Quincy,  October  1st,  1880,  and  after  attending  St.  Francis  Col- 
lege completed  his  studies  at  St.  Meinrad,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
ordained  to  the  priesthood  June  9th. 

However,  the  principal  event  of  the  year  was  the  celebration 
of  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  the  parish,  which  occurred  in  August. 
It  was  ushered  in  with  Forty  Hours  Devotion,  which  was  held 
on  the  13th,  14th  and  15th,  and  during  which  the  sermons  were 
delivered  by  two  Jesuits  of  former  acquaintance,  Fathers 
Simeon  and  Schnitzler.  At  the  close  of  the  devotion,  Father 
Bruener,  having  obtained  special  faculties  from  Rome,  imparted 
the  Papal  Blessing,  with  plenary  indulgence  for  all  who  had  re- 
ceived the  sacraments. 

The  next  day  the  entire  parish  set  about  with  wonderful 
enthusiasm  to  make  the  immediate  preparations  for  a  grand  and 
impressive  outer  celebration  of  the  Jubilee,  decorating  their 
homes  and  business  places,  yes,  even  the  streets,  with  garlands 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 47_ 

and  banners  and  lanterns  of  every  shape  and  color.  On  Wednes- 
day, Aug.  17th,  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  children  of  the  school  gave 
an  enjoyable  entertainment,  the  principal  features  of  which  were 
a  touching  medley  of  song  and  recitation  by  the  girls,  composed 
by  Sister  Tarsilla  especially  for  the  occasion  and  entitled  "Die 
Mystische  Rose"  ("The  Mystical  Rose")  followed  by  a  very 
laughable  comedy  by  the  boys  that  bore  the  title  "Ei,  so  beiss !" 
("Why  don't  you  bite !")  In  the  evening  at  8  o'clock  there  was 
a  reception  for  the  attending  guests,  about  100  in  number,  at 
which  Mr.  Ricker,  president  of  the  day,  gave  a  short  address  of 
welcome,  after  which  Father  Bruener  entertained  the  audience 
with  a  speech  that  was  full  of  pithy,  witty  remarks  and  allusions, 
whilst  the  teachers'  choir,  under  direction  of  Prof.  Singenberger, 
as  well  as  the  church  choir  and  the  "W.  C.  U.  Band"  added  to 
the  pleasure  of  the  evening,  with  a  number  of  appropriate  selec- 
tions. 

On  the  following  day,  Aug.  18th,  the  celebration  began 
already  near  the  hour  of  seven,  when  a  monster  parade  was 
formed,  in  which  the  school  children  and  societies  of  all  the 
parishes  took  part,  followed  by  the  clergy  and  church  boards  in 
carriages.  5 

At  10  o'clock  there  was  Pontifical  High  Mass,  celebrated  by 
Bishop  Katzer  of  Green  Bay,  assisted  by  Fathers  Johannes  and 
Schlotmann  as  deacon  and  sub-deacon,  and  Father  Anselm 
Mfueller,  O.  F.  M.,  as  master  of  ceremonies,  after  which  Bishop 
Marty  of  Dakota  delivered  an  eloquent  sermon,  in  the  course  of 
which  he  reviewed  the  work  accomplished  during  the  fifty  years 
now  past,  and  exhorted  all  to  show  their  gratitude  to  God  by 
striving  to  do  still  greater  things  in  the  future.  At  12  o'clock 
was  served  a  banquet  in  the  school  hall.  At  3 :30  o'clock  Pon- 
tifical Vespers  took  place,  followed  by  Benediction  and  "Te 
Deum."  In  the  evening,  after  dark,  the  guests  were  taken 
through  the  city  in  24  open  carriages,  followed  by  a  guard  of  300 
men,  to  view  the  decorations  and  the  illumination,  which,  accord- 
ing to  daily  papers,  greatly  surpassed  every  previous  attempt  in 
that  direction  ever  made  in  the  city. 

On  Friday,  Aug.  19th,  a  Solemn  Requiem  Mass  was  offered 
for  the  deceased  members  of  the  congregation,  and  this  con- 
cluded the  Golden  Jubilee  celebration. 

As  a  Golden  Jubilee  gift  from  the  Ladies'  Society  and  the 


48  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Young  Ladies'  Sodality  the  church  received  that  rare  work  oi 
art,  the  sanctuary  carpet,  measuring  20  feet  square,  which  on  ac- 
count of  its  priceless  value  is  used  on  the  most  solemn  occasions 
only,  and  may  be  seen  in  the  sanctuary  during  the  coming  cele- 
bration of  the  Diamond  Jubilee.  The  design  of  this  masterpiece, 
which  is  copied  from  the  famous  drawing  of  Prof.  Klein  for  St. 
Stephen's  Cathedral  in  Vienna  and  which  was  artistically 
executed  by  the  Misses  Joerres  of  Munich,  is  typical  of  the 
Church  and  the  means  of  grace  laid  down  therein  by  Jesus 
Christ.  The  ark  in  the  center,  into  which  every  species  of 
animal  is  entering  for  refuge  from  the  deluge,  is  a  figure  of  the 
Church,  in  which  all  who  enter  can  find  salvation  for  their  soul, 
the  enclosed  altar  from  which  issue  flames,  being  an  emblem  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  burning  with  love  for  men.  The  nar- 
row bridge  over  which  the  animals  pass  into  the  ark,  and  the 
dragons  lying  beneath  molesting  them,  remind  us  of  the  narrow 
path  to  Heaven  and  of  the  hellish  monsters  seeking  our  destruc- 
tion. Above  the  ark  there  is  a  fountain  which  with  its  seven 
streams  that  are  flowing  from  it,  is  the  emblem  of  the  merits  of 
Christ  which  come  to  us  through  the  Seven  Sacraments,  symbol- 
ized in  the  various  figures  around  the  ark.  Quotations  of  Scrip- 
ture and  from  the  Office  of  the  Feast  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  which 
are  skilfully  woven  in  between,  give  further  explanation  of  the 
beautiful  conception  underlying  the  whole.  Truly  a  triumph  of 
Christian  art! 

It  was  on  the  occasion  of  the  Golden  Jubilee  that  Father 
Bruener  published  his  famous  "Kirchengeschichte  Quincy's" 
("Church  History  of  Quincy"),  a  record  of  Catholic  activity 
throughout  the  city  from  its  origin  to  his  own  day,  in  the  prep- 
aration of  which  the  author  made  the  most  exhaustive  researches, 
with  the  result  that  he  has  given  to  the  Catholics  of  Quincy,  and 
especially  to  the  members  of  this  parish,  an  historical  work  of 
most  interesting  as  well  as  invaluable  information,  whilst  for 
himself  he  has  placed  a  monument  more  durable  than  stone  or 
bronze,  and  has  merited  the  title  "The  Historian  of  St.  Boniface." 

But  whilst  the  joyful  Jubilee  celebration  was  going  on, 
Father  Bruener  was  harboring  other  thoughts,  which  he  care- 
fully concealed,  however,  from  even  his  most  intimate  friends. 
But  the  wily  Father  Pesch  surmised  the  secret,  and  when  on  the 
10th  of  November,  the  feast  day  of  Father  Bruener's  patron 


Temporary  Chapels  of  Primitive  Days 


\Vln-i  <•  the  First  Mass  \Vras  Said  in  Quincy 

This  little  brick  house  stood  on  the  east  side  of  Fourth  street,  about  100  feet  north  of 
Jersey  street,  and  was  erected  about  1832  by  Adam  Schmitt.  In  the  front  room  his  wile 
conducted  a  little  variety  store,  whilst  the  rear  was  used  tor  a  living  room.  When  Father 
Lefevre  made  an  occasional  visit  to  Quincy,  this  room  was  used  as  a  chapel,  where  he  per- 
formed his  priestly  ministrations  and  offered  up  the  First  Mass  that  was  ever  said  in  Qnin- 
cy.  Sometimes  when  this  room  could  not  be  vacated,  he  would  transfer  his  headquarters 
to  the  little  carpenter  shop  of  Mr.  .Schmitt,  that  stood  in  the  rear,  and  there  the  Holy  Sacri- 
fice was  offered,  witli  a  carpenter's  bench  for  an  altar. 


"Chapel  of  the  Ascension  of  Christ.*' 

From  a  Drawing  by  G.  Frank  Wellman. 

This  two-story  frame  building,  located  cm  the  northewst  corner  of  Eleventh  and  Broad- 
way, was  erected  by  the  same  Adam  Schmitt,  in  1837,  and  occupied  by  him  for  some  time 
as  a  residence.  When  Father  Brickwedde  came  to  Quincy  in  August,  the  upper  story  was 
fitted  out  as  a  chapel,  which  was  dedicated  under  the  title  of  the  "Ascension  of  Christ." 
The  entire  district,  which  was  thus  the  cradle  of  the  future  St.  Boniface  Congregation,  be- 
came very  appropriately  known  as  "Bethlehem." 


£:_ ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 49 

saint,  he  was  sent  to  invite  the  priests  of  the  city,  as  well  as  the 
trustees  and  directors  of  the  church,  to  spend  a  social  evening  at 
the  rectory,  he  hinted  to  them  his  suspicions  that  the  "party" 
being  planned  by  his  pastor  would  turn  out  to  be  one  of  farewell. 
The  assembled  guests  soon  began  a  rigid  cross-examination  of 
their  generous  host,  and  before  the  evening  had  advanced  very 
far,  they  obtained  from  him  an  open  confession  that  he  was  about 
to  leave  them  to  join  the  Franciscan  Order.  The  teacher  and 
organist  at  that  time,  Mr.  Huck,  had  also  received  a  'tip"  from 
Father  Pesch,  and  soon  he  arrived  on  the  scene  with  the  choir, 
who  had  assembled  to  give  their  beloved  pastor  a  last 
serenade,  and  then  to  bid  him  a  fond  adieu.  In  the  meantime, 
about  10  o'clock,  Father  Michael  Weis,  the  new  pastor  appointed 
by  the  bishop,  arrived,  and  Father  Bruener,  after  introducing  his 
successor,  sets  out  that  very  night  for  Teutopolis,  where  under 
the  name  of  Father  Leo  he  assumes  the  habit  and  becomes  an 
humble  son  of  St.  Francis. 

REGIME  OF  FATHER  WEIS. 

The  Financier  oi  St.  Boniface. 

Nov.  lOth,  1887— Nov.  9th,  19O9. 


A  great  reduction  had  already  been  made  in  the  debt  of  the 
church  through  the  strenuous  efforts  of  Fathers  Janssen  and 
Bruener.  A  continuance  of  this  good  work  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal issues  that  confronted  Father  Weis  when  he  became  their 
successor.  And  so  bravely  did  he  undertake  the  work,  so  suc- 
cessfully did  he  carry  it  through,  that  in  the  course  of  only  five 
years  he  had  canceled  over  half  of  the  debt,  and  in  spite  of  the 
many  costly  improvements  which  he  was  compelled  to  make 
since  then,  he  left  only  $7,023.40  to  be  paid  by  his  successor, 
thus  meriting  the  title  which  we  have  given  him  above,  "The 
Financier  of  St.  Boniface." 

The  main  increase  of  the  parish  income  came  from  house 
collections,  of  which  in  the  first  nine  years  he  took  up  eight,  with 
an  average  return  of  over  $1850.00,  as  also  from  the  annual  pic- 
nics, festivals  and  other  entertainments,  which  in  the  same 
period  of  time  brought  an  average  revenue  of  more  than  $1300.00 
a  year.  But  let  us  follow  the  new  pastor  from  the  beginning  of 
his  career  at  St.  Boniface. 


50  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


The  first  occurrence  of  importance,  not  only  for  this  parish 
but  for  the  Church  at  large,  was  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  Pope  Leo 
XIII,  who  on  Dec.  31st,  1887  had  been  ordained  priest  just  fifty 
years.  The  outer  celebration  at  St.  Boniface  took  place  already 
on  December  28th,  the  feast  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  and  con- 
sisted of  two  entertainments,  the  one  in  the  afternoon  being 
given  entirely  by  the  children,  whilst  the  other  in  the  evening 
was  mainly  in  the  hands  of  their  elders,  with  addresses  in 
German  and  English,  a  number  of  musical  selections  by  the  choir, 
and  a  little  playlet  by  the  boys  of  the  school,  on  the  program. 
The  church  celebration  of  the  Jubilee,  however,  had  been  set 
by  Father  Janssen,  who  since  the  death  of  Bishop  Baltes,  was 
administrator  of  the  diocese,  for  the  following  Sunday,  January 
1st,  when  the  parishioners  were  invited  to  offer  up  Communion 
for  the  Holy  Father,  and  a  solemn  "The  Deum"  was  chanted 
after  the  parochial  Mass. 

On  December  1st  of  this  year  our  able  and  zealous  sacristan, 
George  Schmeing,  assumed  his  duties,  being  the  successor  to 
August  Menke,  and  now  that  be  is  about  to  celebrate  his  25th 
anniversary  in  that  capacity,  let  us  say  that  he  has  always  been  a 
hard  and  willing  worker,  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  wherever 
he  can,  making  himself  useful  at  many  different  trades  and  there- 
by saving  the  parish  a  great  amount  of  expense,  respected  and 
loved  on  account  of  his  genial  ways  by  young  and  old  alike, 
who  could  ill  afford  to  get  along  without  "George." 

About  this  time  was  organized  our  celebrated  "Columbia 
Dramatic  Club"  (the  name  however  being  of  later  origin),  which 
since  then  has  been  a  permanent  adjunct  to  the  Young  Men's  So- 
ciety and  through  it  to  St.  Boniface  Church  at  large,  and  through 
its  brilliant  theatrical  performances  given  at  regular  intervals 
has  done  much  to  foster  the  best  interests  of  both.  It  lists  in  its 
repertoire  a  score  or  more  of  the  greatest  successes  in  recent 
years,  and  through  its  masterly  interpretation  of  the  same,  has 
placed  itself  on  a  plane  that  is  reached  by  very  few  similar  or- 
ganizations of  amateurs,  and  which  many  professionals  can  not 
even  retain.  In  its  early  history  the  Columbia  Dramatic  Club 
elected  no  officers  outside  of  its  director,  which  position  is  still 
held  with  ever  increasing  merit  by  its  original  organizer,  Will  H. 
Sohm.  For  some  years  however,  the  organization  has  had  its 
regular  staffs,  the  following  being  the  present  incumbents : 


St.  Boniface  Church  in  Former  Days 


First  Church,    School  and  Parsonage,   Erected   1838. 


Second  Church  Erected   1839-184O. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 51 

John  A.  Ohnemus,  President;  Dr.  Albert  H.  Sohm,  Vice-Presi- 
dent;  Will  H.  Sohm,  Director  and  Electrician;  Frank  X.  Hell- 
mer,  Ass't.  Director;  Geo.  Seifert,  Stage  Manager;  Hy.  Stein- 
kamp,  Stage  Carpenter  and  Property  Man ;  John  L.  Otten,  Chief 
Usher. 

On  April  25th,  1888,  occured  the  consecration  of  Father 
Janssen,  former  pastor  of  St.  Boniface,  as  the  first  bishop  of  the 
Belleville  Diocese,  whilst  the  diocese  of  Alton,  was 
to  receive  a  new  head  in  the  person  of  Father  James  Ryan  of 
Ottawa  in  the  diocese  of  Peoria,  whose  consecration  had  been  set 
for  May  1st.  On  the  previous  Sunday,  which  was  April  29th, 
a  meeting  of  all  the  men  and  young  men  societies  of  the  parish 
was  held  to  make  the  final  arrangements  for  an  excursion  to 
Alton  for  the  occasion,  at  which  both  Father  Weis  and  Father 
Pesch  his  assistant  were  present.  On  June  16th,  the  newly  con- 
secrated bishop  comes  for  the  first  time  to  Quincy,  where  he  is 
met  by  members  of  the  various  societies,  and  after  celebrating 
Pontifical  High  Mass  the  next  day,  administers  the  Sacrament 
of  Confirmation. 

On  August  15th  of  this  year  Geo.  P.  Willhauck  becomes  the 
successor  to  Oscar  P.  Huck  as  organist  and  teacher,  which 
double  position  he  filled  most  ably,  taking  great  interest  not  only 
in  his  work  in  church  and  at  school  but  also  giving  invaluable 
assistance  in  preparing  the  various  parish  entertainments,  as  well 
as  in  the  management  of  different  societies,  until  after  a  severe 
attack  of  pneumonia  he  resigned  his  position  in  June,  1909  to 
take  a  much  needed  rest  and  regain  his  strength. 

On  February  27th,  1889  the  first  diocesan  synod  was  con- 
vened by  Bishop  Ryan  at  Alton,  and  Father  Weis  was  present 
for  the  occasion.  The  feast  of  St.  Boniface,  June  5th,  was  ob- 
served with  a  High  Mass,  followed  by  procession  with  the  relic 
of  the  Saint,  after  which  the  parishioners  paraded  to  Kaiser's 
Garden,  to  enjoy  a  genuine  German  "Volksfest.."  The  principal 
items  of  expense  for  the  year  were  $414.83  for  laying  the  sewer 
on  Maine  and  Hampshire  streets,  and  $549.05  for  repairs  on  the 
various  parish  buildings,  including  the  church  and  school. 

On  June  8th,  1890  a  mass-meeting  of  members  of  all  the 
German  parishes  was  held  at  St.  Boniface  School  Hall  for  the 
purpose  of  devising  means  to  defeat  the  notorious  Edwards' 
School  Bill,  which  besides  the  provision  for  free  text-books, 


52  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


that  would  mean  a  great  increase  in  taxes,  also  contained  a 
clause  to  the  effect  that  all  children  of  the  proper  age  must  at- 
tend a  school  approved  by  the  State,  in  consequence  of  which 
our  parish  schools  would  either  come  under  State  control  or  be 
compelled  to  close  their  doors.  Needless  to  say  the  bill  was 
never  put  into  effect. 

On  June  25th  of  this  year  Father  Francis  Xavier  Schonlau 
comes  to  St.  Boniface  as  assistant  to  Father  Weis,  to  succeed 
Father  Pesch,  who  left  on  the  following  day. 

Some  time  this  year,  the  "St.  George's  Literary  and  Athletic 
Club"  was  organized  by  Prof.  Willhauck,  for  which  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected :  President,  Arnold  Dreisoerner,  Vice- 
President,  Frank  Moller;  Secretary,  George  J.  Heintz;  Treas- 
urer, Frank  Hellmer;  Instructor,  William  Thoele.  This  Club 
was  formed  especially  for  boys  from  12  to  16  years  of  age,  who 
were  not  yet  eligible  to  membership  in  the  St.  Joseph  Young 
Men's  Society;  and  its  object  in  accordance  with  the  old  saw 
"a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body"  was  by  means  of 
athletic  exercises,  to  develop  physical  strength  in  its  members, 
whilst  their  powers  of  mind  were  to  receive  new  stimulus  from 
recitations  spelling-bees,  debates,  dramas  and  the  like  which 
were  provided  at  regular  intervals.  Beginning  with  April  21st, 
1898,  a  paper  with  Frank  Weisenhorn  and  Joseph  Fisher  as 
editors,  was  published  whenever  these  gentlemen  "saw  fit,"  the 
first  three  numbers  of  which  are  in  our  possession,  and  form  very 
interesting  reading  matter,  the  very  first  issue,  for  instance,  al- 
ready giving  the  final  solution  of  the  important  and  perplexing 
question,  whether  a  hen  "sets"  or  "sits"  on  an  egg.  Much  in- 
terest was  taken  in  the  Club  during  the  entire  period  of  its  ex- 
istence, the  membership  usually  ranging  from  75  to  100,  until  in 
1904  it  turned  over  its  effects  to  the  newly  organized  St.  Boni- 
face Social  Club,  and  ceased  to  exist  as  an  independent  organi- 
zation. 

The  following  extraordinary  expenditures  occured  in  the 
course  of  the  year:  June  17th,  $540.16  to  E.  Best  &  Co.  for  lay- 
ing a  sewer;  August  30th,  $2231.00  to  H.  N.  Farrar  for  paving 
on  Hampshire  street;  September  2nd,  $145.00  to  E.  Best  &  Co. 
for  putting  water  pipes  in  the  cemetery ;  October  1st,  $740.37  for 
paving  on  Maine  street. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church  board,  January  llth,  1891,  it  was 


Present  St.  Boniface  Chnrch 

Corner-Stone  laid  May  26th,  1847 

Consecrated  by  Archbishop  Kenrick  of  St.  Ivouis,  October  12nd,  1848. 
Present  Spire  built  in  1882. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


decided  that  the  organ  in  church  should  be  repaired  as  soon  as 
possible,  which  work  was  allotted  to  the  Lancashire-Marshall 
Organ  Co.  for  $300.00.  It  was  also  agreed  that  the  parochial 
residence  should  be  remodeled  by  adding  several  new  rooms  in- 
cluding a  kitchen,  and  putting  in  new  windows,  the  plans  for 
these  improvements  to  be  drawn  up  by  Henry  Schenk.  Finally 
provision  was  made  to  take  away  some  of  the  soil  surrounding 
the  church  and  parsonage,  so  as  to  lead  the  water  away  from  the 
walls  and  render  them  less  moist  ;  also  to  have  sewer  connections 
made  for  all  the  parochial  buildings  not  yet  so  equipped;  the 
total  cost  of  these  improvements  amounting  to  over  $1100.00. 

On  July  of  this  year,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  St.  Mary's 
Church  was  laid  by  Bishop  Ryan,  and  the  various  societies  of 
St.  Boniface  Parish  attended  the  ceremony  in  a  body. 

On  August  21st  of  the  following  year,  the  laying  of  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  St.  Rose's  Church  takes  place,  again  the  societies 
attend  in  numbers,  the  St.  Joseph  Young  Men's  Society  headed 
by  its  new  banner  which  had  been  solemnly  blessed  by  Father 
Weis  that  very  same  morning  after  Mass. 

On  Oct.  7th,  1892,  the  property  on  Seventh  and  Jersey 
streets,  with  the  building  that  had  served  successively  as  a  Meth- 
odist church,  St.  Boniface  School  and  St.  Joseph's  Negro  Church, 
was  sold  to  Messrs  Meyer  &  Tacke  for  a  consideration  of  $2,800, 
of  which  $800  was  paid  in  cash,  the  balance  being  secured  by  a 
mortgage  which  was  released  April  10th,  1911,  when  the  place 
was  transferred  to  John  MHisolino,  the  well-known  fruit  dealer. 
who  has  since  erected  a  warehouse  on  the  site. 

In  this  year,  1892,  occured  the  400th  anniversary  of  the 
discovery  of  America  by  Christopher  Columbus,  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  wishes  of  the  Holy  Father  expressed  in  a  special 
encyclical  "Quarto  Abrupto  Saeculo"  dated  July  16th,  1892,  the 
occasion  was  celebrated  at  St.  Boniface  Church  with  a  special 
High  Mass  in  honor  of  the  Blessed  Trinity  on  Sunday,  October 
16th.  On  Friday,  October  21st,  the  eve  of  the  landing  of  the 
great  Catholic  discoverer,  a  public  celebration  took  place  in 
which  the  children  of  all  the  schools  took  part,  1400  of  the  6000 
being  Catholic.  But  since  in  these  common  exercises  the  re- 
ligious element  had  to  be  excluded,  the  Catholics  of  Quincy 
held  another  celebration  for  themselves  in  the  evening,  the 
feature  of  which  was  a  monster  torch-light  parade,  in  which 
the  men  and  young  men  of  all  the  parishes,  to  the  number  of  over 


54  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


2000  took  part,  followed  by  an  enthusiastic  mass-meeting  in 
Washington  Square,  where  several  appropriate  addresses  were 
made,  a  hymn  composed  by  Prof.  Singenberger  especially  for  the 
occasion  was  sung,  and  a  solemn  "Te  Deum"  closed  the  day. 
A  special  dispensation  to  eat  meat  on  this  day  had  been  granted 
by  the  Holy  Father. 

On  December  8th,  the  new  St.  Marys  Church  was  dedicated 
and  various  organizations  of  St.  Boniface  again  attended. 

The  Young  Ladies'  Sodality  this  year  made  a  present  to 
the  church  of  the  beautiful  baldachin  or  canopy,  which  is  still 
in  use,  and  which  is  valued  at  $100.00. 

In  1893  we  find  the  first  red-letter  day  under  date  of  April 
4th,  which  was  the  25th  anniversary  of  Father  Weis'  ordination 
to  the  priesthood  and  was  fittingly  celebrated  by  his  parish- 
ioners. At  9  o'clock  there  was  a  Solemn  High  Mass,  celebrated 
by  the  Rev.  Jubilarian  assisted  by  Fathers  Foerster  and  Niebling, 
with  sermon  by  Father  Arsenius  Fahle,  O.  F.  M.,  of  St.  Francis 
Monastery.  In  the  evening  a  reception  was  held  in  the  school 
hall  during  which  the  children  rendered  a  very  appropriate 
program  which  was  much  enjoyed  by  the  pastor..  As  a  slight 
token  of  esteem  from  his  parishioners,  a  purse  of  $400.00  had 
been  raised  which  was  presented  during  the  course  of  the  even- 
ing, and  which  was  generously  donated  back  to  the  church  in 
the  form  of  an  imported  solid  silver  monstrance  which  is  now 
used  for  Benediction  with  the  Blessed  Sacrament  on  special  oc- 
casions. This  artistic  creation  in  beautiful  Romanesque  style,  is 
surmounted  by  a  crucifixion  group.  Around  the  opening  for  the 
lunula  are  twelve  medallions  of  oxidized  silver  representing  the 
twelve  apostles,  with  four  others  at  the  extremities  containing 
the  emblems  of  the  four  evangelists,  whilst  at  the  foot  are  four 
similar  but  larger  representations  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus, 
the  Madonna  with  Child,  St.  Joseph  and  St.  Boniface.  The 
whole  is  beautifully  studded  with  4  large  crystals,  8  topazes, 
16  amethysts  and  60  corals,  whilst  enamelled  bands  around  the 
center  bear  this  inscription  taken  from  a  hymn  for  the  Feast  of 
Corpus  Christi: 

"Se  nascens  dedit  socium 

Convescens  in  edulium 

Se  moriens  in  pretium 

Se  regnans  dat  in  praemium" 


Interior  of  St.  Boniface  Church 


Front  View 


Rear  View 


___ ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 55 

"In  birth,  man's  fellow-man  was  He; 
His  Meat  while  sitting  at  the  board ; 
He  died,  his  Ransomer  to  be 
He  reigns,  to  be  his  great  Reward." 

Other  valuable  gifts  were  also  presented  to  Father  Weis 
on  the  occasion  of  his  Jubilee,  not  least  amongst  them  being  a 
handsome  silver  clock,  which  was  sent  by  the  children  of  St. 
Aloysius  Orphanage. 

In  June  the  need  of  repairs  in  and  about  the  parsonage  was 
felt  again,  and  though  the  work  was  carefully  done  (by  Schul- 
lian  &  Reid  for  $240.33),  it  became  more  evident  from  day  to 
day  that  a  new  parochial  residence  would  have  to  be  erected 
soon. 

In  a  meeting  of  the  church  board  on  August  13th,  it  was 
decided  to  install  a  steam  heating  plant  for  the  church  and  par- 
sonage, and  M,r.  F.  Tubesing  was  employed  to  furnish  plans  and 
specifications,  whilst  a  committee  was  empowered  to  advertise 
for  bids  thereon.  On  September  19th  this  committee  reported 
that  the  firms  of  Schullian  &  Reid  and  the  J.  B.  Boyd  Plumbing 
Co.  were  the  lowest  bidders,  the  former  offering  to  build  the 
boiler-house  and  appurtenances  for  $850.00,  the  latter  agreeing 
to  install  the  heating  apparatus  itself  for  $1325.00.  The  con-- 
tracts were  at  once  awarded,  and  before  the  end  of  the  year  the 
work  had  been  completed.  However,  as  there  were  several 
minor  details  that  were  not  satisfactory,  the  work  was  not 
formally  accepted  until  April  19th  of  the  following  year,  when 
a  two-year  guaranty  was  given  by  the  architect  and  the  balance 
of  the  contract  price  was  paid. 

On  September  13th,  1893,  Father  August  Gorris  arrived  as 
assistant  to  take  the  place  of  Father  Schonlau,  and  through  his 
pleasant  affable  ways  he  soon  became  a  prime  favorite  with 
young  and  old  alike. 

As  a  Christmas  present  to  the  church  the  Ladies  Society  do- 
nated a  set  of  beautiful  gold  brocaded  vestments,  which  were 
furnished  by  F.  J.  Casarell  of  Crefeld  and  cost  $550.00. 

On  June  14th,  1894,  at  a  special  meeting  of  the  trustees  and 
directors  of  the  church,  it  was  reported  that  Mr.  Hackett,  a 
painter  from  Chicago,  who  was  just  at  work  in  some  other 
church  of  the  city,  had  offered  to  retouch  and  embellish  St.  Boni- 
face, which  had  acquired  considerable  dirt,  for  the  sum  of  $950 ; 


56  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


also  that  an  estimate  for  repainting  the  outer  wood-work  of  the 
church  and  school  had  been  obtained  at  $347.00.  Contracts  were 
awarded  for  both.  Other  important  items  of  expense  this  year 
were  $390.00  for  a  piano  for  the  school  hall,  which  after  many 
years  of  service  is  still  one  of  the  finest  instruments  in  the  city ; 
$65.00  for  a  small  organ  to  be  used  for  school  and  choir  practice ; 
$105.00  for  laying  of  the  sewer  in  the  alley  between  Seventh  and 
Eighth  and  Maine  and  Hampshire  streets. 

On  July  22nd  of  this  year  the  second  annual  convention  of 
the  State  Federation  of  German  Catholic  Societies  ("Vereins- 
bund")  which  had  been  organized  at  Peoria,  July  9th,  1893,  was 
opened  at  St.  Boniface.  The  delegates,  who  arrived  in  Quincy 
already  Saturday  night,  took  up  their  headquarters  at  the  Tre- 
mont  House,  whence  on  Sunday  morning  at  9  o'clock,  they 
marched  in  a  body  to  St.  Boniface  Hall  which  had  been  taste- 
fully decorated  in  American  and  Papal  colors.  The  delegates 
were  called  to  order  by  Wm.  F.  Heckenkamp,  Sr.,  the  president 
of  the  day  who  introduced  State  President  Scherer  of  Peoria, 
and  afterwards  Mayor  John  P.  Mikesell  of  Quincy,  who  paid  a 
warm  tribute  to  fraternal  societies  and  bade  the  delegates  a 
hearty  welcome  to  our  city.  At  9 :45  all  marched  to  church 
where  Pontifical  High  Mass  was  celebrated  by  Bishop  Ryan, 
with  Father  Nich.  Leonard,  O.  F.  M.,  rector  of  St.Francis  College 
as  assistant  priest,  Father  Hagen,  chancellor  of  the  Belleville 
diocese  and  Father  Kerr  of  the  local  St.  Peter's  Church  as  deacons 
and  sub-deacons  of  honor,  Father  Weis  the  pastor  of  St.  Boni- 
face and  Father  Samuel  Macke,  O.  F.  M.,  as  deacons  and  sub- 
deacons  of  the  Mass,  and  Father  Gorris  as  master  of  ceremonies, 
whilst  the  sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor  of  St.  John's 
Church,  Father  Still.  The  choir  with  orchestra  accompaniment, 
were  at  their  best  and  lent  additional  solemnity  to  the  occasion. 
At  2 :30  P.  M.  the  delegates  attended  Vespers,  after  which 
a  grand  parade  was  held,  made  up  of  all  the  religious  societies  of 
the  city,  followed  by  the  bishop  and  clergy  in  carriages,  with 
Fred.  Wolf,  Sr.,  acting  as  chief  marshal.  In  the  evening  the 
scene  of  festivities  was  shifted  to  the  Empire  Theatre,  where 
addresses  were  made  by  Bishop  Ryan,  Father  Hagen  and  others, 
with  musical  selections  by  the  united  church  choirs  of  136  voices, 
and  a  solemn  "Te  Deum"  to  close  the  day. 

On  the  following  day,  Solemn  High  M!ass  was  celebrated 


- 

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8 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 57 

at  8:30  A.  M.  at  St.  Francis  Church,  and  an  interesting  enter- 
tainment given  at  the  school  hall  in  the  evening;  whilst  the 
third  and  last  day  of  the  convention  was  opened  at  8  A.  M.  with 
a  Solemn  Requiem  Mass  at  St.  Mary's  church,  and  closed  with 
a  banquet  for  the  delegates  and  invited  guests  at  Highland  Park. 
All  the  business  meetings  of  the  convention  were  held  at  St. 
Boniface  Hall. 

In  December  of  this  year  the  Ladies'  Society  again  made  a 
substantial  donation  to  the  church,  this  time  in  cash  amounting 
to  $505.77,  whilst  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodality  contributed  $200. 

Early  in  1895  a  sentiment  began  to  prevail  in  favor  of  a  new 
organ  for  the  church,  the  old  one  having  been  in  use  since  the 
fall  of  1854  and  in  consequence  badly  worn  out.  A  letter  to 
the  firm  of  J.  W.  Steere  &  Sons  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  leading 
organ  builders  in  the  country,  brought  the  senior  M!r.  Steere 
himself  to  Quincy,  who  was  asked  to  submit  plans  and  specifi- 
cations for  a  first-class  instrument,  together  with  the  lowest 
price  for  which  it  could  be  set  up.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the 
church  board  April  9th,  the  whole  matter  was  thoroughly  dis- 
cussed with  Mr.  Steere,  with  the  result  that  a  contract  was  duly 
executed  and  signed  for  an  organ,  built  according  to  the  then 
much  lauded  Hethrington  Automatic  System,  that  was  to  cost 
$4200.00  and  be  ready  for  use  in  three  or  four  months.  The  work 
was  carried  out  as  agreed,  and  on  the  evening  of 
September  10th  the  new  organ  was  ready  for  a 
trial,  whilst  on  the  next  day  it  was  played  for  the  first 
time  at  divine  service,  the  occasion  being  the  marriage 
of  two  prominent  young  people  of  the  parish,  Will  Sohm 
and  Rosa  Granacher. 

On  June  5th  of  this  year  occurred  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  St. 
Boniface  Benevolent  Society,  and  the  event  was  the  occasion  for 
a  great  celebration  held  at  the  church.  At  9  A.  M.  a  Solemn 
Pontifical  High  Mass  was  celebrated  by  Bishop  Ryan,  with 
Fathers  Weis,  Nicholas  Leonard,  O.  F.  M.,  and  Ulrich  Petri,  O. 
F.  M,.,  as  priest,  deacon  and  sub-deacon  of  honor  respectively, 
Fathers  Engelbert,  Gey  O.  F.  M.,  and  Irenaeus  Voussem,  O.  F. 
M.,  as  deacon  and  sub-deacon  of  office,  Fathers  Gorris  and  Pesch 
as  masters  of  ceremony,  whilst  Father  Jos.  Meckel  of  Alton  de- 
livered the  sermon  in  which  he  spoke  in  his  own  inimitable  way 
of  the  great  good  that  can  be  and  no  doubt  has  been  accom- 


58  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


plished  by  a  society  like  the  one  that  was  celebrating,  in  fifty 
years.  On  leaving  the  church  about  11  o'clock  the  members  of 
the  society  formed  ranks  to  the  number  of  about  200,  and  headed 
by  Gardner's  Military  Band,  and  with  Edward  Sohm,  Henry 
Duerholt,  Herman  Sibbing  and  George  Heidemann  as  marshals, 
held  an  impressive  parade,  which  was  viewed  by  Bishop  Ryan 
from  the  parsonage.  In  the  evening  a  grand  entertainment  was 
given,  in  the  course  of  which  Father  Hagen,  the  vicar-general  of 
the  Belleville  diocese  gave  an  interesting  address  in  which  he 
also  conveyed  the  congratulations  of  the  Belleville  societies. 

On  the  16th  of  the  same  month,  the  Sunday  within  the 
octave  of  Corpus  Christi,  Father  William  Liesen,  born  Sept. 
25th,  1861,  another  son  of  St.  Boniface  celebrated  his  First  Mass 
at  his  mother-church. 

July  7th  marks  the  arrival  of  Father  Fred.  A.  Niebling  at 
St.  Boniface,  who  for  more  than  nine  years  was  a  faithful  as- 
sistant to  Father  Weis. 

On  October  13th  of  this  year,  was  laid  the  corner-stone  of 
the  new  St.  John's  Church,  and  the  various  societies  of  St.  Boni- 
face, having  formed  ranks  on  Seventh  and  Hampshire  streets, 
marched  out  and  attended  the  ceremony. 

Besides  the  $4200.00  for  the  new  organ,  the  following  are 
the  principal  other  bills  that  were  paid  this  year:  $175.66  for 
freight  on  the  organ ;  $145.00  for  an  electric  motor  to  operate 
the  bellows ;  $1270.11  for  new  roof  on  church  and  other  repairs 
on  the  parish  property;  $1117  for  paving  the  street. 

In  1896  the  parish  produced  another  priest  in  the  person  of 
Father  Maximilian  Koch,  who  was  ordained  June  26th,  1896  at 
Innsbruck,  Austria  and  celebrated  his  First  Mass  at  St.  Boni- 
face, Sunday,  September  13th.  Father  Koch,  the  son  of  the 
late  John  L,.  Koch,  was  born  in  Quincy,  April  15th,  1866 ;  he 
graduated  from  the  National  College  of  Pharmacy  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  in  1886  and  worked  as  a  pharmacist  for  about  two 
years,  after  which  he  began  his  studies  for  the  holy  priesthood. 
After  celebrating  his  First  Mass  he  was  appointed  by  Bishop 
Janssen  first  assistant  then  pastor  at  the  Cathedral  in  Belleville, 
but  died  already  December  20th  1901  as  the  result  of  acute 
tuberculosis.  His  remains  are  interred  at  St.  Boniface  Cemetery. 

On  November  2nd  of  the  current  year,  Father  Gorris  who 
through  his  amiable  character  had  endeared  himself  to  all  the 


Interior  of  St.  Boniface  Church. 


14  HOUY  HELPERS 


5'ESSED  HERMAN  JOSEPH 


Paintings  from  the  Main  Altar  and  the  Baptistry. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


parishioners  of  St.  Boniface  was  transferred  as  assistant  to  St. 
John's  Church  and  Father  F.  X.  Sturm  arrived  on  the  same  day 
to  take  his  place. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  trustees  and  directors  of  the 
church  in  1897  (March  1st),  the  main  topic  that  came  up  for 
consideration  was  the  advisability  of  lighting  the  church,  school 
and  parsonage  with  electricity,  the  gas  service  having  of  late 
become  entirely  inadequate.  After  a  thorough  discussion  of  the 
matter,  it  was  decided  to  obtain  estimates  of  the  cost  for  the 
proposed  improvement,  after  which  a  special  meeting  was  to  be 
called  for  further  action.  This  meeting  took  place  on  Mkrch 
16th,  and  was  attended  by  Rudolph  Tenk,  of  the  Tenk  Hard- 
ware Co.,  who  submitted  plans  for  a  first-class  electric  lighting 
system  made  up  of  the  best  materials  known,  and  stated  that 
the  cost  including  wiring  and  fixtures  would  amount  approxi- 
mately to  $275.00  for  the  church  and  $265.00  for  the  school,  no 
estimate  being  given  for  the  parsonage.  The  plans  of  Mr.  Tenk 
were  approved  and  he  was  instructed  to  begin  with  the  work  at 
once.  Several  changes  in  the  specifications  were  subsequently 
made,  and  when  the  entire  system  had  been  installed  the  cost 
was  $375.20  and  $290.52  for  the  church  and  school  respectively. 

In  1898  the  ancient  dream  of  a  new  parsonage  became  at 
last  a  reality.  And  surely  a  sorely  needed  improvement  it  was, 
as  the  old  parish  residence,  with  all  the  repairs  that  were  made 
from  time  to  time,  left  very  much  to  be  desired,  and  amongst 
many  others  had  this  irremediable  disadvantage,  that  it  stood 
on  the  very  line  of  the  sidewalk  thus  making  impossible  any  de- 
gree of  privacy.  Hence  a  great  amount  of  discussion  had  pre- 
ceded and  the  Bishop  had  already  been  asked  for  his  approval, 
when  a  meeting  was  held  on  April  3rd,  and  adjourned  to  April 
4th,  for  the  purpose  of  looking  over  the  site  for  the  proposed 
new  building  and  adopting  plans  and  specifications.  At  first  it 
was  the  intention  to  build  to  the  west  of  the  church  with  front 
on  Maine  street,  but  as  the  additional  property  which  would  have 
been  required  to  carry  out  this  plan,  was  offered  at  such  a  pro- 
hibitive price,  it  was  at  length  agreed  to  utilize  the  existing 
church  yard  only,  and  erect  the  parsonage  to  the  north  of  the 
church  with  fronting  to  Maine  street  and  also  to  Seventh  street. 
A  committee  had  been  appointed  to  confer  with  Architect  Tube- 
sing,  who  submitted  drawings  and  descriptive  matter,  and 
agreed  to  make  a  charge  of  only  2  per  cent  for  his  work  as  archi- 


60  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


tect,  whilst  he  would  at  the  same  time  act  in  the  capacity  of 
superintendent  without  making  the  usual  additional  levy  of  1 
per  cent.  The  plans  and  specifications  of  Mr.  Tubesing  were 
adopted  and  he  was  instructed  to  invite  reliable  contractors  to 
place  their  bids  for  the  work  not  later  than  April  12th,  when 
they  would  be  opened  in  the  presence  of  the  rector,  the  lay 
trustees  and  directors  of  the  church  and  the  architect.  As 
Father  Gorris  who  was  still  assistant  at  St.  John's  Church  had 
acquired  quite  a  little  experience  in  building,  and  showed  great 
interest  in  the  work  at  St.  Boniface,  he  was  requested  to  act  as 
assistant  to  Mr.  Tubesing.  By  April  12th  the  following  bids 
had  been  presented  on  the  work:  A.  Moller  $11762.00;  Henry 
Schenk  $10980.00;  Hy.  Eichelschulte  $10900.00;  John  Schmits, 
$10707.00;  G.  H.  Dicker  10505.67;  Baltas  Schullian  $10481.00. 

Mr.  Schullian  being  the  lowest  bidder  was  awarded  the  con- 
tract, with  the  understanding  that  the  work  must  be  completed 
by  Sept.  1st.  On  April  18th,  the  parochial  residence  was  tem- 
porarily transferred  to  the  Browning  House,  and  the  work  of 
tearing  down  the  old  vacated  parsonage  and  building  the  new 
one  was  begun.  But  things  did  not  progress  as  rapidly  as  was 
at  first  expected,  and  it  was  only  after  the  8th  of  January  that 
the  new  house  was  ready  to  be  occupied. 

In  the  contract  awarded  to  Mr.  Schullian,  the  hardware,  or- 
namental glass,  electric  lighting,  and  of  course  the  furnishings, 
had  not  been  provided  for,  it  being  deemed  advisable  that  the 
congregation  take  these  matters  up  directly.  In  consequence 
the  following  expenditures  must  be  added  to  the  original  con- 
tract price:  $222.05  to  Oenning  Glass  &  Book  Co.  for  glazing; 
$158.18  to  Tenk  Hardware  Co.  for  electric  wiring  with  $557.00 
additional  for  the  fixtures,  and  $192.00  for  other  hardware ; 
$448.53  to  Andrew  Doerr  and  W.  T.  Duker  for  dry  goods  and 
carpets,  which  was  paid  by  the  memlbers  of  the  Ladies'  Society ; 
$237.25  to  F.  Duker  &  Sons  for  furniture  of  which  the  Ladies' 
Society  paid  $159.75  and  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodality  $77.50; 
$245.00  to  Geo.  J.  Risto  for  seven  mantels  and  grates;  $31.05  for 
a  range  for  the  kitchen ;  $125.00  to  Poepping  &  Heine  for  an  iron 
fence  around  the  lot;  $231.33  for  grading  and  laying  sidewalks. 
Then  there  came  the  usual  "extras"  for  which  $173.00  was  paid 
to  Baltas  Schullian ;  $127.30  to  Menke  Stone  and  Lime  Co.  and 
$242.00  to  E.  Best  &  Co.,  who  however  allowed  $200.00  off  on 
boiler,  so  that,  including  the  fee  of  the  architect  which  was 


235 


<    S 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 61. 

$250.00,  the  total  cost  of  our  present  parsonage  amounted  to  no 
less  than  $13,520.78.  But  surely  the  money  was  well  invested, 
and  instead  of  the  dilapidated  building  that  stood  in  its  place 
before,  St.  Boniface  now  has  a  rectory  that  is  becoming  to  it  as 
the  oldest  German  Catholic  parish  along  the  Mississippi,  a 
rectory  that  is  second  to  none  in  the  diocese  and  of  which  all 
loyal  parishioners  have  reason  to  feel  proud. 

In  the  meantime  the  new  St.  John's  Church  had  been  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  February  13th,  attended  as  a  matter  of 
course  by  a  large  crowd  of  parishioners  from  the  old  mother- 
church. 

On  April  16th,  Father  Joseph  Foerster  became  assistant  in 
place  of  Father  Sturm. 

Other  improvements  ordered  during  the  year  were  the  fol- 
lowing; Paving  and  sewering  on  Maine  street  adjacent  to  the 
old  cemetery  property,  as  also  on  State  street,  adjoining  the  pres- 
ent burial  ground,  for  $1914.47;  and  fire-escapes  for  the  school 
building,  furnished  by  Poepping  &  Heine  for  $130.00. 

In  March  of  the  year  1900,  inquiry  was  made  of  the  Stuck- 
stede  Bell  Foundry  of  St.  Louis,  relative  to  the  cost  of  recasting 
the  largest  bell  in  the  tower,  which  like  the  "Liberty  Bell"  of 
revolutionary  days  had  announced  its  glad  tidings  too  loud  and 
too  long,  and  in  consequence  had  sprung  about  two  years  ago. 
The  firm  in  question  agreed  to  do  the  work  as  specified  and  fur- 
nish a  new  bell  containing  all  the  metal  of  the  old  one,  for  which 
due  allowance  would  be  made  from  the  regular  price  which  was 
759.35,  including  $66.00  for  the  mountings.  Mr.  Schenk  was  in- 
structed to  take  the  bell  from  the  tower  and  to  send  it  to  their 
factory,  whence  it  returned  May  25th,  much  improved  in  weight 
and  general  appearance,  the  former  being  2700  pounds  for  the 
bell  itself  and  900  pounds  for  the  mountings;  it  measured  now 
some  53  inches  in  diameter,  and  is  pitched  as  it  was  before,  in  D 
natural.  When  the  bill  for  the  work  arrived,  it  was  found,  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  that  the  allowance  for  the  old 
metal  mentioned  above  was  $480.13,  so  that  the  net  cost  of  the 
work  was  only  $279.22.  On  Sunday,  May  27th,  at  2 :30  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  bell  was  re-blessed  by  Father  Weis,  with 
Edward  Sohm,  George  Fischer,  Wm.  Krewet,  Henry  Tenk,  John 
Herman  Tenk,  Joseph  Lubbe,  Wm.  Berter  and  George  Schmeing 
as  sponsors,  whilst  the  popular  pulpit  orator,  Father  Michael 


62  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Richardt,  O.  F.  .M.,  delivered  one  of  his  eloquent  masterpieces. 
The  name  of  the  bell,  as  inscribed  thereon  is  Boniface. 

On  Thursday,  August  23rd,  the  annual  Eucharistic  Confer- 
ence of  the  Alton  diocese  was  opened  at  Quincy  with  head- 
quarters at  St.  Boniface.  At  9  o'clock  A.  M.  a  Solemn  High 
Mass  was  celebrated,  followed  by  German  and  English  sermons 
by  Fathers  Meckel  of  Alton  and  Hickey  of  Springfield  respect- 
ively, whilst  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  Benediction  with  the  Most 
Blessed  Sacrament  took  place. 

When  the  terrible  Galveston  tornado  and  flood  of  Sept.  8th 
had  caused  a  loss  of  7000  lives  and  $30,000,000  of  property,  a 
special  collection  was  taken  up  in  St.  Boniface  Church  Septem- 
ber 16th,  which  brought  the  sum  of  $151.62  for  the  sufferers. 

December  31st  of  this  year,  according  to  the  common  cal- 
culation at  least,  marked  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and 
as  the  most  appropriate  means  of  entering  the  twentieth  and  of- 
fering the  very  first  fruits  thereof  to  God,  the  Holy  Father  per- 
mitted the  celebration  of  Mlid-night  Mass  before  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament exposed  in  all  the  churches  throughout  the  world,  during 
which  the  faithful  could  also  receive  Communion.  The  privi- 
lege was  made  use  of  at  St.  Boniface,  and  great  was  the  throng 
of  people  young  and  old  who  came  to  church  at  so  early  an  hour 
to  assist  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice  and  to  receive  the  Sacraments. 
Truly  for  them  the  new  century  was  well  begun,  begun  in  a  man- 
ner to  draw  down  from  heaven  God's  choicest  blessings  for  the 
years  to  come. 

The  opening  of  a  new  century  figures  not  merely  on  the 
civil  calendar,  but  also  in  the  customs  and  practices  of  the 
Church,  according  to  which  every  25th  year  is  a  so-called  "Jubi- 
lee Year"  during  which  a  special  plenary  indulgence  is  granted 
by  the  Holy  Father  to  those  who  comply  with  the  necessary 
conditions.  The  conditions  for  the  Jubilee  this  year,  included 
besides  the  worthy  reception  of  the  sacraments,  a  visit  to  four 
different  churches  repeated  on  fifteen  days,  and  for  the  members 
of  St.  Boniface,  the  churches  specified  by  the  bishop  were  be- 
sides their  own,  St.  Peter's,  St.  Francis'  and  St.  John's.  The 
"Jubilee"  was  published  in  church  on  Feb.  2nd,  the  first  Sunday 
in  Lent,  and  the  time  for  gaining  it  was  from  March  1st  to  Sept. 
1st. 

In  the  beginning  of  July  of  this  year  Father  Weis  under- 
took an  extended  trip  to  Europe,  visiting  many  places  of  special 


Interior  of  St.  Boniface  School 


Entertainment  Hall. 


Sodality  Chapel. 


ST.    BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


interest.  His  return  to  Quincy,  October  18th,  was  made  the  oc- 
casion for  a  grand  reception  that  had  been  quietly  arranged  and 
was  tendered  two  days  later  by  his  parishioners,  who  through 
their  spokesman,  Edward  Sohm,  gave  him  a  most  hearty  wel- 
come back  to  their  midst,  to  which  he  responded  in  a  happy 
vein,  talking  about  the  principal  incidents  of  his  sojourn  abroad, 
and  expressing  his  sincere  pleasure  in  being  back  again  amongst 
his  people  who,  compared  with  those  of  other  countries,  are,  gen- 
erally speaking,  not  so  very  bad  after  all.  The  good  pastor  sup- 
posed that  this  would  conclude  the  celebration,  when  suddenly 
the  scenery  in  the  rear  of  the  stage  was  opened  displaying  in 
a  glare  of  light  the  precious  gifts  that  had  been  prepared  and 
were  now  formally  presented  during  a  speech  by  Hy.  Duerholt 
and  another  by  George  Fischer,  Sr.  The  following  were  in- 
cluded in  the  exhibition  : 

A  communion  cloth  of  the  finest  linen  and  lace,  donated  by 
Mrs.  Hy.  Ording  and  Mrs.  Geo.  Egbers,  and  made  up  by  the 
young  ladies  of  the  parish. 

An  altar  cloth  of  the  same  material  by  Misses  Cornelia  and 
Clara  Heintz. 

Lace  covers  for  the  side  tables  by  Miss  Anna  Duker  and 
Miss  Estella  Friederick. 

A  smaller  piece  of  finest  fabric  by  Miss  Helen  Jacoby. 

A  surplice  in  keeping  with  the  rest  of  the  gifts,  by  Mrs. 
Egbers  and  Mrs.  Ording. 

A  cord  for  the  sanctuary  bell,  in  satin,  artistically  embroid- 
ered, by  M*iss  Anna  S.  Kiefer. 

A  white  chasuble  in  brocaded  velvet  with  hand-painted  de- 
sign of  the  Holy  Family,  from  the  men  of  the  congregation. 

A  fine  crayon  picture  of  the  pastor,  in  a  heavy  gilt  frame, 
by  Father  Niebling,  his  faithful  and  zealous  assistant. 

After  the  presentation  of  these  gifts,  the  ladies  served  a  de- 
licious luncheon,  and  the  balance  of  the  evening  was  spent  in 
pleasant  conversation  in  a  manner  that  must  have  left  the 
fondest  memories  in  the  minds  of  all  who  witnessed  it. 

From  November  4th  to  llth  the  school  was  closed  to  give 
the  children  a  chance  of  complying  with  the  order  of  the  Board 
of  Health  in  regard  to  being  vaccinated,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  smallpox,  several  cases  of  which  had  been  reported 
in  the  city.  No  child  was  to  be  admitted  to  school  without  a 
properly  signed  certificate. 


64  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


On  November  16th  occured  at  the  Vincent  Home  the  death 
of  Father  Gorris,  former  assistant  at  St.  Boniface,  and  the  large 
attendance  at  his  funeral  which  took  place  from  St.  John's  Church 
November  19th,  showed  how  beloved  he  was  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

The  next  year,  1902,  is  ushered  in  with  a  Golden  Jubilee,  it 
being  fifty  years  on  January  llth  since  the  first  regular  meeting 
of  Aloysius  Orphan  Society  had  been  held,  though  its  organi- 
zation, as  stated  above,  had  already  been  effected  November  30th 
of  the  preceeding  year.  A  Solemn  High  Mass  was  celebrated  at 
8  o'clock  by  Father  Weis,  during  which  a  brilliant  sermon  was 
delivered  by  Father  Andrew  Butzkueben,  O.  F.  M.,  pastor  of  St. 
Francis  Church.  At  4  o'clock  P.  M.  the  officers  and  members 
of  the  society,  together  with  their  wards  the  orphans,  met  at  the 
school  hall,  where  at  5  o'clock  they  were  served  with  a  tempting 
supper.  At  7:30  o'clock  there  was  an  entertainment,  consisting 
of  several  selections  by  St.  Boniface  Choir,  followed  by  the  very 
appropriate  and  touching  three-act  drama  "Out  in  the  Streets" 
presented  by  "St.  George's  Literary  and  Athletic  Club."  No  one 
enjoyed  a  more  pleasant  evening  than  the  orphans  themselves, 
though  the  joy  of  their  elders  must  have  been  doubled  by  the 
thought  that  they  were  helping  to  provide  for  and  make  happy 
these  poor,  little  ones.  A  tasty  illustrated  booklet  was  published 
for  the  occasion  by  the  program  committee  consisting  of  Chris. 
Freiburg,  Chris.  Wand  and  George  Fischer,  Jr.,  for  which  a  de- 
tailed history  of  the  society  was  written  by  Henry  Freiburg. 

In  the  meantime  repeated  complaints  had  been  made  about 
the  lack  of  room  in  the  gallery  of  the  church,  due  to  the  greater 
dimensions  of  the  new  organ  as  well  as  to  the  increase  in  the 
membership  of  the  choir.  Mr.  Tubesing  who  was  consulted  sub- 
mitted plans  and  specifications  for  extending  the  gallery,  and 
when  Mr.  Schullian  had  offered  to  carry  them  out  for  the  sum 
of  $386.50,  he  was  instructed  to  proceed  with  the  work,  and  our 
good  singers  can  now  no  longer  excuse  themselves  for  any 
musical  misdemeanor  with  a  plea  of  lack  of  room  for  breathing. 

During  the  summer  months  of  this  year  the  interior  of  the 
school  was  kalsomined  by  Geo.  Starmann  for  $150.00,  who  also 
retouched  some  parts  of  the  decorations  in  the  church  which 
caused  an  additional  expenditure  of  $98.00. 

On  June  15th  of  this  year  the   Rev.    William  Schemer,  an- 


Interior  of  St.  Boniface  School 


Class  Room. 


Pioneer  Educator  at  the  School 


Mother  Boniface. 

Born  at  Siejfesdorf,  Bavaria,  Dec.  26th,  1836.  Came  to  America 
with  her  parents  in  1842.  Entered  Notre  Dame  Convent  at  Milwaukee 
April  23rd,  1853.  Received  the  Habit  May  24th,  1854.  Made  her  pro- 
fession Oct.  21st,  1856.  Came  to  St.  Boniface  School  in  1863.  Opened 
St.  Mary's  Academy  in  1867.  Died  Jan.  1st,  1908. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


other  son  of  St.  Boniface,  celebrated  his  First  Mass  at  his  parish 
church. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  occurred  another  joyful  event,  this 
time  the  Silver  Jubilee  of  the  Western  Catholic  Union,  which 
was  celebrated,  in  conjunction  with  the  twenty-fifth  annual  con- 
vention, on  Wednesday  and  Thursday,  October  15th  and  16th. 
The  delegates  to  the  convention  assembled  at  St.  Boniface  Hall 
at  8  :00  A.  M.  of  the  15th  and  proceeded  to  church,  where  Solemn 
Pontifical  Mass  was  celebrated  at  8:30  by  Bishop  Janssen,  with 
sermon  by  Father  Anselm  Mueller,  O.  F.  M.,  Rector  of  St.  Fran- 
cis College.  The  convention  proper  was  opened  at  11  :00  o'clock 
by  Supreme  President  Herman  F.  Jochem,  who  introduced  suc- 
cessively Anton  Hy.  Heine,  the  President  of  the  day,  and  Hon. 
John  A.  Steinbach,  Mayor  of  the  city,  for  addresses  of  welcome  ; 
then  followed  presentation  of  badges  after  which  adjournment. 
In  the  afternoon  at  2  :00  o'clock  there  was  a  great  parade,  with 
St.  Francis  College  students  in  the  lead,  followed  by  all  the  dele- 
gates, with  the  clergy  in  carriages  forming  the  close.  In  the 
evening  at  8  :00  o'clock  a  grand  entertainment  was  given  at  the 
Empire  Theatre,  the  features  of  which  were  several  vocal  se- 
lections by  the  consolidated  church  choirs  of  Quincy,  and  an 
address  by  Rev.  A.  Zurbonsen,  then  of  Raymond,  now  pastor 
of  the  local  St.  Mary's  Church.  The  following  day  the  delegates 
attended  Mass  again  in  a  body,  this  time  a  Solemn  Requiem  for 
the  deceased  members  of  the  Union,  after  which  the  business 
meetings  were  continued  until  8  :00  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  the  cele- 
bration came  to  a  close  with  a  delicious  banquet  at  which  T.  J. 
Manning  acted  as  toast-master,  with  several  prominent  members 
listed  as  the  speakers.  The  very  exhaustive  and  beautifully  il- 
lustrated historical  souvenir  published  on  the  occasion  of  this 
Jubilee,  was  again  the  work  of  the  indefatigable  Chris.  Freiburg, 
assisted  by  John  A.  Connery  and  Hy.  Ording,  Jr. 

On  January  18th  of  1903,  Father  Weis  announced  that  he 
would  return  all  deposits  that  had  been  made  by  members  of  St. 
John's  Savings  Association  and  that  their  account  books  must  be 
returned  within  a  month  from  date,  after  which  they  would  be 
void.  This  society,  organized  at  the  time  of  financial  embar- 
rassment had  fulfilled  its  mission  and  being  no  longer  of  any 
need,  was  dissolved. 

On  M&rch  3rd  occurred  the  25th  anniversary  of  the  corona- 
tion of  Pope  Leo  XIII,  and  the  occasion  was  observed  with  a 


66  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


High  Mass  and  special  prayers  for  His  Holiness.  On  the  same 
day  was  laid  the  corner-stone  for  the  new  St.  Joseph's  Church 
on  Columbus  Road,  to  replace  the  old  "Rock  Church"  built  in 
1868,  during  the  time  of  Father  Schaefermeyer,  which  had  been 
destroyed  by  a  cyclone  in  1902.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Father  Weis. 

On  June  29th  of  this  year,  it  being  the  feast  of  SS.  Peter 
and  Paul,  Father  Solanus  Rooney,  O.  F.  M.,  a  child  of  St.  Boni- 
face Parish  known  better  under  his  baptismal  name,  Paul,  cele- 
brated his  First  Mass  at  St.  Francis  Church.  Father  Solanus, 
son  of  the  late  Dr.  Michael  Rooney,  the  eminent  physician  and 
one-time  teacher  at  St.  Boniface,  was  born  September  17th,  1877, 
made  a  brilliant  course  of  studies  at  the  parish  school,  St.  Francis 
College,  St.  Louis  University  and  Harvard,  after  which  he  was 
invested  with  the  habit  of  St.  Francis,  July  24th,  1899  and  raised 
to  the  priesthood  June  27th,  1903.  He  was  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  a  parish  largely  composed  of  Mexicans  and  Pima  In- 
dians, amongst  whom  he  was  achieving  great  good,  when  ill 
health  compelled  him  to  seek  the  milder  climate  of  Santa  Bar- 
bara where,  however,  he  passed  to  his  reward  already  May  24th, 
1906. 

On  the  5th  of  July  the  announcement  was  made  in  church 
that  beginning  with  the  following  September,  St.  Boniface 
School  would  be  free,  so  that  the  last  excuse  of  some  parents  for 
sending  their  children  to  the  public  schools,  would  vanish  and 
only  prejudice  or  stubbornness  could  stand  in  the  way  for  the 
future.  It  was  the  understanding,  however,  that  only  active 
members  of  the  parish,  that  is  such  that  contribute  their  share, 
especially  in  pew-rent,  towards  the  support  of  the  church  could 
avail  themselves  of  this  new  feature,  whilst  others  living  out- 
side of  the  parish  as  well  as  those  who  had  not  rented  a  seat, 
would  be  required  to  pay  $1.00  a  month  tuition  as  in  the  past. 
The  funds  for  conducting  the  school  according  to  this  plan  were 
to  be  raised  by  a  special  monthly  collection  to  be  taken  up  by 
the  trustees  and  directors  in  church,  and  by  an  annual  picnic  or 
fair.  The  free-school  plan  is  still  in  vogue  at  St.  Boniface, 
though  it  must  be  confessed  that  the  income  from  the  above 
sources  falls  short  every  year  by  a  great  margin  of  the  actual 
expense  of  operation. 

On  July  20th,  1903,  occurred  the  death  of  Pope  Leo  XIII., 


St.JBoiiiface  Parsonage,  Old  and  New 


Bought  in  1857,  Enlarged   in  1865 


Erected    1898. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 67 

and  on  the  28th  a  special  service  was  held  for  the  repose  of  his 
soul. 

The  following  year  was  ushered  in  with  a  destructive  fire  at 
St.  Boniface,  to  which  the  old  historic  Browning  House  that 
stood  on  the  school  site  bought  by  Father  Ostrop  fell  the  victim. 
This  massive  mansion,  a  beautiful  specimen  of  old  colonial  style, 
and  the  most  pretentious  building  in  the  city  at  its  time,  had 
derived  its  name  from  the  Hon.  O.  H.  Browning,  who  had  built 
it  about  the  year  1843,  at  a  cost  of  over  $30,000.  Hon.  O.  H. 
Browning  was  one  of  the  foremost  statesmen  of  his  time,  and 
was  secretary  of  the  interior  under  President  Johnson.  He  was  a 
personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  when  the  future  presi- 
dent arrived  in  Quincy  early  in  the  morning  of  Oct.  13th,  1858, 
to  engage  that  same  day  with  his  opponent,  Stephen  Douglas, 
in  the  famous  debate  of  ante-bellum  days,  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
escorted  to  the  Browning  home,  where  a  beautiful  bouquet  was 
presented  to  him  by  a  delegation  of  Quincy  ladies,  to  whom  he 
expressed  in  a  brief  response  his  gratification  for  the  interest 
taken  in  him.  From  the  platform  that  afternoon  after  debating 
for  an  hour  and  a  half,  Mr.  Lincoln  again  repaired  to  this  stately 
mansion,  and  standing  on  the  top  of  the  great  stone  steps,  flanked 
by  the  massive  columns  of  its  colonial  portico,  he  held  a  levee 
and  his  admirers  were  introduced  to  him.  Many  other  dis- 
tinguished men  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  the  Browning  resi- 
dence until  its  proprietor  built  another  residence  on  Eighth  and 
Sycamore  streets  (which  was  afterwards  bought  by  H.  F.  J. 
Ricker,  Sr.),  and  sold  the  place  on  Hampshire  street  to  Father 
Ostrop  who  built  the  school  just  south  of  the  old  mansion  which 
served  for  a  temporary  parsonage  in  1898,  and  was  later  occupied 
by  Dr.  John  Koch  and  the  Conservatory  of  Music  successively, 
until  the  day  of  the  fire,  which  was  caused  by  a  defective  pipe  of 
the  furnace  passing  through  a  wooden  partition.  While  the  fire 
was  at  its  worst,  it  was  greatly  feared  that  the  magnificent  school 
building  which  stood  in  such  close  proximity,  would  also  go, 
when  a  sudden  change  of  the  wind  relieved  the  anxiety  and  saved 
the  day.  Whilst  the  insurance  received  on  the  building,  $1,665.00, 
covered  only  the  smaller  part  of  the  loss,  no  attempt  was  made 
to  restore  it  as  it  had  stood  in  a  place  of  disadvantage  for  the 
school. 

In  the  spring  of  1904  St.  Boniface  School  was  equipped  with 


68  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


the  fine  adjustable  desks  which  are  in  present  use,  and  which 
were  furnished  by  the  American  School  Furniture  Co.  for 
$641.80. 

On  Dec.  8th  of  the  same  year  occurred  the  50th  anniversary 
of  the  proclamation  by  Pope  Pius  IX.  of  the  dogma  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  the  day,  which 
is  already  a  holy  day  of  obligation,  was  celebrated  with  special 
solemnity  on  this  occasion,  for  which  also  a  special  indulgence, 
called  "Jubilee,"  had  been  granted  by  the  Holy  Father. 

On  Dec.  29th  of  this  year  Father  Kunsch  arrived  at  St.  Boni- 
face, to  take  up  his  duties  as  assistant,  Jan.  1st,  whilst  on  the  next 
day  Father  Niebling,  who  had  acted  in  a  similar  capacity  for 
over  nine  years,  took  leave  of  his  many  Quincy  friends  and  de- 
parted for  his  new  field  of  labor  in  Lillyville. 

On  Thursday  evening,  Jan.  19th,  1905,  the  formal  opening 
of  the  parish  club-house  took  place.  For  some  time  already  the 
desirability  of  added  social  facilities,  especially  for  the  younger 
members  of  the  congregation,  had  been  discussed.  After  several 
joint  meetings  of  the  trustees  and  directors  of  the  church  with 
the  officers  of  St.  Joseph  Young  Men's  Society  and  of  St. 
George's  Literary  &  Athletic  Club  had  been  held  to  consider  what 
steps  could  be  taken  in  this  direction,  it  was  suggested  that 
the  old  female  seminary  building  might  be  converted  into  a  club- 
house and  plans  were  evolved  concerning  the  changes,  the  cost 
for  which  was  estimated  at  about  $2,500.00.  For  the  purpose  of 
carrying  out  these  plans  a  new  organization  was  formed  and  in- 
corporated under  the  name  of  'St.  Boniface  Social  Club,"  at  the 
first  meeting  of  which,  on  Sept.  19th,  1904,  the  following  officers 
were  elected :  Pres.,  Ed.  Sohm ;  Vice-Pres.,  George  Fischer,  Sr. ; 
Rec.  Sec.,  Will  Sohm ;  Fin.  Sec.,  B.  F.  Weisenhorn ;  Treas.,  Jos. 
Fischer. 

An  understanding  was  reached  at  once  with  the  church 
board,  by  virtue  of  which  a  five  years'  lease  on  the  property  in 
question  was  given  to  the  club  with  permission  to  remodel  the 
building  as  proposed,  without  any  further  consideration  except 
the  pledge  to  keep  the  place  in  good  repair  at  their  own  expense. 
To  raise  the  necessary  funds  for  the  improvements  the  organi- 
zation issued  stock  in  shares  of  $10.00  each,  which  were  readily 
disposed  of  to  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  parish. 

An  agreement  had  been  entered  into    with    the  St.    Joseph 


Headquarters  of  St.  Boniface  Social  Club. 


Instructors  in  Physical  Culture. 


* 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


Young  Men's  Society  as  early  as  Aug.  16th,  1904,  by  virtue  of 
which  the  library,  pool  and  billiard  tables  and  other  furniture  of 
the  latter  were  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  former,  who 
were  to  insure  and  care  for  the  same,  and  in  case  of  dissolution  to 
return  them  without  any  further  process  of  law.  In  considera- 
tion of  this  transfer  of  property,  and  for  the  further  payment  by 
the  society  of  10  cents  a  month  "per  capita,"  all  the  members  of 
the  former  were  to  become  "ipso  facto"  special  members  of  the 
latter,  and  be  on  an  equal  footing  in  regard  to  the  rights  of  the 
house,  with  the  regular  members  who  paid  25  cents  per  month. 
A  similar  arrangement  was  made  with  the  St.  George's  Literary 
&  Athletic  Club,  which  organization,  however,  soon  ceased  to 
exist 

So  much  arranged,  the  work  of  remodeling  the  building  was 
begun,  and  before  many  weeks  had  elapsed,  the  interior  had 
assumed  an  entirely  new  appearance  and  included  a  spacious 
assembly  hall,  a  cozy  card  and  reading  room,  attractive  pool  and 
billiard  quarters,  an  up-to-date  double  track  bowling  alley,  a 
well  equipped  gymnasium,  with  lavatories,  kitchen  and  other 
accessories  that  go  to  make  up  a  first-class  club-house.  When 
everything  had  been  put  in  readiness,  the  formal  opening,  as 
stated  above,  took  place,  in  thjg^course  of  which  light  refresh- 
ments were  served  to  the  visitor?. 

St.  Boniface  Social  Club,  which  made  its  debut  under  such 
favorable  conditions,  continues  to  exist  and  to  exercise  a  whole-- 
some influence  over  young  and  old  alike,  to  whom  it  offers  the 
various  popular  amusements  and  other  social  features,  without 
exposing  them  to  the  moral  dangers  threatening  at  other  public 
places  of  a  similar  nature. 

On  Sunday,  Feb.  12th  of  this  year,  a  joint  meeting  of  the 
Ladies'  Society,  the  Orphans'  Society  and  Young  Men's  Society 
was  called,  for  the  purpose  of  making  some  provisions  for  the 
needy  members  of  the  parish  who  were  suffering  greatly  on 
account  of  the  severity  of  the  winter.  The  result  of  this  meet- 
ing was  the  organization  of  an  Aid  Society  similar  to  the  defunct 
St.  Stephen's  Society,  for  which  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  President,  Mrs.  Pantaleon  Werneth  ;  Sec.-Treas.,  Mrs. 
Joseph  Freiburg,  Sr.  This  organization,  which  a  year  ago  as- 
sumed the  same  name  as  its  predecessor,  continues  to  carry  on 
its  work  of  charity,  giving  occasional  suppers  to  raise  the  neces- 


70  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


sary  funds,  as  well  as  collecting  wearing  apparel  and  other  ar- 
ticles to  be  distributed  amongst  the  poor.  God  bless  the  Ladies! 

On  Feb.  25th,  Father  Fred  Neveling  arrives  as  second  as- 
sistant at  St.  Boniface,  but  leaves  again  April  27th,  after  having 
preached  a  popular  course  of  lenten  sermons. 

From  May  2nd  to  5th  a  bazaar  was  given  at  the  Turner  Hall 
by  all  the  parishes  of  the  city,  for  the  benefit  of  St. 
Mary's  Hospital,  the  special  feature  of  which  was 
a  voting  contest  for  the  most  popular  parish  in  Quincy,  in  which 
St.  Boniface  carried  off  the  premium  in  the  form  of  a  beautiful 
hand-embroidered  set  of  white  vestments  including  chasuble 
and  dalmatics. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  year  extensive  repairs  were 
necessary  in  and  about  the  school.  The  old  slate  roof  with  its 
ever  leaking  cornice  gutters  had  been  a  cause  of  constant  annoy- 
ance and  expense;  hence  it  was  decided  to  extend  the  walls  of 
the  building  sufficiently  to  allow  a  metal  roof  with  bracket  gut- 
ters to  be  constructed  over  it.  The  brick-work  included  in  the 
specifications  was  done  by  Geo.  Vonderhaar  for  $120.00 ;  the  car- 
penter-work by  Anton  Roehl  for  $598.00 ;  whilst  the  metal-work 
was  let  to  Geo.  Winking  for  $550.00.  A  metal  ceiling  was  next 
put  into  the  hall,  where  the  loose  plaster  had  been  a  source  of 
constant  danger,  the  contract  being  awarded  to  the  firm  of  Berg- 
hofer  £  Ohnemus  for  $360.00.  Just  prior  to  this,  the  hall  was 
wired  for  electric  lights,  which  M/iller  &  Butler  attended  to  for 
$182.98.  Other  repairs  included  the  laying  of  iron  sills  at  the 
entrances  of  the  school,  which  were  furnished  by  the  Central  Iron 
Works  for  $64.75 ;  the  installation  of  the  inner  doors  at  the  en- 
trances to  serve  as  a  protection  against  the  cold  of  the  winter 
season,  for  which,  together  with  other  work,  Frank  Hoeckelmann 
received  $272.67  ;  and  finally  the  painting  of  the  entire  wood-work 
which  George  Starmann  undertook  for  $209.05.  Other  repairs 
were  made  this  year  amounting  to  over  $500,  whilst  $52.76  was 
invested  in  a  calcium  light  for  the  stage. 

Some  time  this  year  the  church  received  a  valuable  gift  in 
the  form  of  six  massive  gold-plated  candelabra  and  a  crucifix  for 
the  high  altar,  which  are  valued  at  $400.00  and  were  donated  by 
John  Sohm  as  a  memorial  for  his  deceased  son  Theodore. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  was  organized  the  present  Columbia 
Orchestra  which  has  so  often  in  recent  years  delighted  the  mem- 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 71 

bers  of  St.  Boniface  with  the  sweet  strains  of  its  music  furnished 
at  the  various  parish  entertainments  and  on  several  special  occa- 
sions also  for  divine  service.  Various  musical  organizations  of 
some  kind  had  been  attempted  since  the  dissolution  of  the 
orchestra  mentioned  during  Father  Ostrop's  career.  As  early 
as  1886  a  number  of  members  of  the  parish  including  the  three 
Surmeyer  brothers,  Frank,  Herman  and  George,  as  also  Bernard 
Damhorst,  Otto  Kathmann  and  Albert  and  Carl  Ridder,  played 
together  on  various  occasions,  without,  however,  having  effected, 
it  seems,  a  permanent  organization.  About  four  years  later  the 
so-called  "Olympia  Orchestra"  was  formed,  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing musicians:  Albert  Ridder  and  Lawrence  Weisenhorn, 
first  violin ;  Theo.  Sohm  and  Joseph  Fischer,  second  violin ;  Fred 
Freiburg,  flute  and  piccolo;  Carl  Ridder,  first  cornet;  Will  Sohm, 
slide  trombone ;  Tom  Sherer,  piano.  This  organization  dis- 
banded some  time  in  1904  and  was  followed  up  in  the  fall  of 
1905,  as  stated  above  by  the  present  Columbia  Orchestra,  which 
started  out  with  a  membership  of  7  or  8,  but  has  since  then 
made  steady  progress  in  "quantity"  as  well  as  "quality"  until 
today  it  numbers  28  players  and  is  considered  one  of  the  best 
musical  organizations  in  the  city. 

The  "Columbia  Concert  Band,"  including  most  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  orchestra,  is  of  later  origin,  its  organization  dating 
back  to  the  spring  of  this  year,  since  when  it  has  rendered  a  verv 
successful  concert  in  the  school  yard  on  the  occasion  of  an  ice 
cream  social  given  by  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodality,  Wednesday 
evening,  Aug.  21st.  It  has  a  membership  of  25,  and  will  be  heard 
again  at  the  coming  Diamond  Jubilee. 

In  1906  occurred  the  Golden  Jubilee  of  the  St.  Joseph 
Young  Men's  Society,  and  the  occasion  was  observed  with  a 
three  days'  celebration  that  will  be  remembered  for  a  long  time 
by  all  who  witnessed  it.  On  Sunday,  Miay  6th,  there  was  a 
Solemn  High  Mass,  at  which  the  members  of  the  society  received 
Holy  Communion  in  a  body.  The  celebrant  was  Father  Weis, 
the  assistants  Father  Niebling  and  a  Franciscan  Father,  whilst 
the  eloquent  Father  Philip  Marke,  O.  F.  M.,  of  St.  Francis  Mon- 
astery, preached  a  very  effective  sermon.  In  the  afternoon  at  3 
o'clock  there  was  Solemn  Vespers,  and  in  the  evening  at  8  o'clock 
the  Columbia  Dramatic  Club  presented  in  a  very  elaborate  man- 
ner "The  Prince  of  Fez."  On  Monday  morning  a  Solemn 


72  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


Requiem  was  offered  up  for  the  deceased  members  of  the  society 
and  in  the  evening  another  entertainment  was  given,  whilst  the 
entire  celebration  came  to  a  close  on  Tuesday  evening,  with  a 
complimentary  banquet  to  all  the  members  past  and  present,  at 
which  about  300  were  seated  with  Edward  Sohm,  trustee  of  the 
society,  as  toast-master.  A  richly  illustrated  souvenir  booklet 
was  published  on  the  occasion  of  the  Jubilee,  in  which  Albert 
Lubbe  gives  a  brief  account  of  the  history  of  the  society. 

In  the  same  month  of  May  the  annual  convention  of  the 
Federation  of  German  Catholic  Societies  took  place  for  the 
second  time  at  St.  Boniface.  On  Sunday,  May  27th,  at  9  o'clock, 
the  delegates  met  at  the  school  hall,  and  after  the  usual  addresses 
of  welcome  by  the  president  of  the  Federation,  Wm.  F.  Hecken- 
kamp,  Sr.,  the  president  of  the  day,  Wm.  J.  Markus,  and  the 
mayor  of  the  city,  Hon.  John  A.  Steinbach,  they  attended  Solemn 
Pontifical  High  Mass  at  10  o'clock,  celebrated  by  Bishop 
Janssen,  the  protector  of  the  Federation,  with  Father  John 
M.  Schaefers  of  Chicago  as  assistant  priest  and  Fathers  Cyprian 
Bauscheidt,  O.  F.  M.,  of  Chicago,  and  Germanus  Heinrichs,  O. 
F.  M.,  of  St.  Francis  Solanus  Church,  as  deacon  and 
sub-deacon  of  honor,  whilst  Fathers  J.  J.  Detmer,  of 
Chicago  and  Augustine  Seifert  of  Rensselaer,  In- 
Father  Symphorian  Forstmann,  O.  F.  M.,  delivering  the  sermon. 
At  2:30  o'clock  the  delegates  attended  Solemn  Vespers  after 
which  a  grand  parade  2,000  strong  was  formed  with  Geo.  Von- 
derhaar,  John  H.  Sohm  and  John  Gehring  as  marshals.  In  the 
evening  at  8  o'clock  there  was  a  social  meeting  at  St.  Francis 
"College  Ball,  the  features  of  which  were  an  address  by  Father 
Augustine  Seifert,  and  several  very  enjoyable  selections  by  the 
consolidated  church  choirs  of  the  city  with  orchestra  accompani- 
ment. On  the  following  day,  at  8:30  o'clock  A.  M.,  another 
Solemn  High  Mass,  celebrated  by  Bishop  Janssen,  took  place  at 
St.  Francis  Church,  after  which  the  business  meetings  were  be^ 
gun  at  St.  Boniface  School  Hall  and  continued  through  the  day, 
whilst  in  the  evening  the  students  of  St.  Francis  College  enter- 
tained the  delegates  by  presenting  in  a  masterly  manner  a  drama 
entitled  "The  Fool's  Bauble."  On  Tuesday,  the  'third  day  of  the 
convention,  a  Solemn  Requiem  Mass  was  held  at  St.  John's 
Church,  celebrated  by  Father  Anthony  Stengel,  assisted  by 
Father  Germanus  Heinrichs,  O.  F.  M.,  and  Father  S.  P.  Hoff- 
mann, as  deacon  and  sub-deacon  respectively.  In  the  afternoon 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 73 

at  2  o'clock  a  trolley  party  was  given  for  the  benefit  of  the  dele- 
gates, whilst  in  the  evening  the  customary  banquet  took  place 
at  St.  Boniface  Hall,  with  Father  J.  M.  Schaefers  as  toast-master 
and  Father  Weis  responding  to  the  toast  "Our  Delegates." 

On  the  first  of  July  of  this  year  the  genial  good-natured 
Father  Adolph  Schneider  arrived  as  second  assistant  to  Father 
Weis,  whose  health  was  beginning  to  fail,  and  who  was  advised 
by  the  bishop  to  take  a  rest.  The  suggestion  of  his  superior  was 
followed  by  the  pastor  and  about  the  23rd  of  the  same  month  he 
departed  for  Milwaukee,  where  he  spent  four  weeks  at  the 
"Sacred  Heart  Sanitarium."  After  his  return  Father  Schneider 
was  transferred  to  St.  Mary's  Church,  where  he  took  up  bis 
duties  Sept.  1st. 

Before  the  departure  of  Father  Weis,  the  interior  of  the  par- 
sonage had  been  repainted  by  George  Starmann,  the  cost  of  the 
work  amounting  to  $169.17. 

A  legacy  received  about  this  time  from  the  estate  of  Johanna 
Kampmann,  brought  the  church  $625.50. 

In  August  a  venturesome  piece  of  work  was  accomplished 
by  Contractor  Freund.  Four  massive  lion  heads  of  stone  had 
adorned  the  corners  of  the  tower,  serving  at  the  same  time  in 
the  capacity  of  waterspouts.  But  time  and  the  elements  had 
disintegrated  this  stone  to  such  an  extent,  that  heavy  pieces  fell 
away  from  time  to  time  and  constant  danger  threatened  passers- 
by.  The  task  of  making  these  dangerous  animals  harmless  was 
left  to  M'r.  Freund,  who,  without  the  aid  of  a  scaffold,  chiseled 
them  from  their  places,  the  loosened  pieces  being  kept  from 
falling  by  means  of  bags,  which  he  tied  around  them. 

In  the  same  year,  1906,  the  organ  again  required  attention, 
the  action  thereof  having  become  entirely  unreliable.  The  firm 
who  had  supplied  the  instrument  on  being  approached  about  the 
matter,  acknowledged  that  the  Hethrington  Automatic  System, 
which  they  had  installed  in  1895,  and  which  had  been  hailed  as 
the  greatest  triumph  in  organ  building,  had  proved  to  be  a  dismal 
failure,  and  therefore  agreed  to  replace  it  with  the  celebrated 
Weigle  Membrane  Tubular  Pneumatic  System  for  the  compar- 
atively small  sum  of  $1,600.00.  Their  proposal  was  accepted,  and 
when  the  work  had  been  completed  St.  Boniface  had  practically 
an  entirely  new  organ,  only  the  pipes  and  the  casings  of  the  old 
one  having  been  retained.  It  was  played  for  the  first  time  on 


74  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


Christmas  Day,  on  which  occasion  also  the  new  Columbia  Or- 
chestra played  the  accompaniment  of  the  Mass. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  features  of  this  organ : 
Number  of  speaking  stops,  28 ;  number  of  mechanical  registers, 
4;  number  of  indicators,  2;  number  of  pistons,  10;  number  of 
pedal  movements,  3 ;  making  a  total  number  of  47  stops  and 
accessories.  The  number  of  pipes  in  the  organ  is  1,713. 

The  year  1907  was  a  dull  one  in  the  history  of  St.  Boniface 
Parish,  with  very  few  important  events  on  record.  About  the 
5th  of  July  Father  Weis  again  received  a  second  assistant,  this 
time  in  the  person  of  Father  Henry  Frost,  who  however,  re- 
mained only  until  Aug.  29th,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Ste. 
Marie  in  Jasper  county. 

From  Nov.  28-30th  of  this  year  a  fair  was  held  at  the 
school  hall,  in  which  unusual  interest  was  shown  by  the  parish- 
ioners and  which  netted  in  consequence  the  neat  sum  of  $1,452.64. 

About  this  time  the  three  altars  of  the  church,  which  had  ac- 
quired considerable  dirt,  were  repainted  and  regilded  by  Geo. 
Starmann  assisted  by  John  A.  Sohm,  the  cost  of  the  improve- 
ment, $1,000.00,  being  defrayed  by  Mrs.  Geo.  Fischer,  who  also 
presented  to  the  church  a  beautiful  set  of  six  new  candlesticks 
for  one  of  the  side  altars,  whilst  for  the  other  Mrs.  Geo.  Star- 
mann made  a  similar  donation. 

Before  the  close  of  the  year  a  new  sanctuary  carpet  was  do- 
nated by  the  Ladies'  Society,  at  a  cost  of  $128.63,  it  being  the 
same  one  which  is  still  doing  service  there. 

On  July  1st  of  1908  Father  Frank  Lucius  came  as  second 
assistant  at  St.  Boniface,  but  left  again  on  Aug.  31st,  to  exchange 
places  with  Father  John  Marion,  assistant  at  Newton,  who  ar- 
rived here  on  Sept.  2nd  and  remained  until  June  30th,  1911,  when 
he  became  pastor  of  St.  Alphonsus  Church  at  Brighton,  after 
having  devoted  himself  especially  to  the  care  of  the  sick,  with 
whom  he  was  in  great  demand. 

In  this  year  the  beautiful  gold-plated  sanctuary  lamp  which 
is  now  aglow  before  the  tabernacle,  was  donated  by  Mrs.  Joseph 
Freiburg,  Sr. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  of  1908  improvements  amount- 
ing to  $4,485.66  were  made  in  the  school.  These  improvements 
consisted  in  laying  in  a  steam-heating  plant  to  be  operated  with 
city  steam,  and  in  converting  the  southeast  corner  of  the  base- 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 75^ 

ment  of  the  building  into  two  sanitary  toilet  rooms  for  the 
children.  The  plans  and  specifications  for  this  work  were  drawn 
by  Architect  Ernest  Wood,  after  which  the  following  contracts 
were  awarded :  Plumbing  to  Ernst  &  Winking  for  $3,666.50 ;  car- 
penter-work to  Baltas  Schullian  for  $149.00 ;  brick-work  to  Hy. 
Konefes  for  $55.00 ;  painting  and  glazing  to  George  Starmann 
for  $260.00 ;  concrete-work  to  Roeder  &  Greemann  for  $246.00 ; 
plastering  to  Emil  Schmitz  for  $197.00.  The  work  was  begun  in 
the  middle  of  July  and  completed  in  the  beginning  of  September. 
These  improvements  in  the  school  were  continued  the  following 
year  when  metal  ceilings  were  put  into  the  three  class  rooms  and 
the  sodality  chapel  on  the  second  floor,  and  all  the  rooms  were 
kalsomined  and  fitted  out  with  electric  lighting,  the  following 
contracts  having  been  awarded :  Metal  ceilings  to  George  Wink- 
ing, $348.35 ;  electric  wiring  to  the  Gem  City  Electric  Co.  for 
$134.18;  kalsomining  to  George  Starmann  for  $254.75. 

In  June,  1909,  Mr.  Willhauck  resigned  as  teacher  and  or- 
ganist at  St.  Boniface.  The  vacancy  in  school  was  filled  by  en- 
gaging an  additional  Sister  whilst  the  organist's  position  was 
temporarily  filled  by  Mr.  Huck  who  acquitted  himself  of  the 
task  imposed  upon  him  with  pristine  brilliancy  and  would  gladly 
have  been  retained  as  permanent  organist  had  he  consented  to 
accept  the  proposal.  As  it  was,  Mr.  Deringer,  who  had  been 
engaged  in  a  similar  capacity  at  Fort  Wayne,  Iowa,  was  finally 
given  the  appointment  and  was  organist  from  Sept.  1909,  to  Jan. 
1910,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  L.  Jung,  who  had  shown 
great  ability  as  organist  at  Milwalkee  and  Superior,  and  who 
was  achieving  similar  success  at  St.  Boniface  when  he  resigned 
Sept.  1st,  1912,  to  accept  a  more  lucrative  position  in  Los  An- 
geles, Calif.  He  was  succeeded  by  Prof.  John  Kieffer,  who  is  the 
present  organist  and  also  the  teacher  of  the  highest  grade  of 
boys. 

In  August,  1909,  occurred  at  St.  Louis,  Mb.,  the  ordination 
to  the  holy  priesthood  and  the  First  Mass  of  Rev.  Herman  Tenk, 
the  son  of  the  late  John  Herman  Tenk  and  a  former  member  of 
St.  Boniface. 

But  the  principal  event  to  record  this  year  is  one  of  a  dif- 
ferent nature  entirely,  it  being  the  death  of  Father  Weis,  the 
saintly  and  zealous  guardian  of  his  flock.  For  some  years  al- 
ready, the  health  of  the  venerable  pastor  had  shown  a  decline. 


76  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


But  being  a  man  of  exceptionally  strong  will,  and  considering  his 
frequent  indispositions  merely  the   natural   result  of   advancing 
age,  he  paid  very  little  attention  to  it,  at  least  so  far  as  inter- 
rupting his  daily  work  was  concerned.     In  the  meantime  the 
actual  cause  of  the  trouble     (cancer)     was     steadily     gaining 
ground,  until  in  the  spring  of  1909  his  condition  was  such  that 
he  was  simply  compelled  to  leave  his  post  and  go  to  St.  Mary's 
Hospital.    Here  he  stayed  from  April  30th  until  July  21st,  when 
he  made  a  change  to  St.  Vincent  Home.    But  in  spite  of  the  most 
conscientious  care  on  the  part  of  the  good  Sisters  of  both  institu- 
tions, his  strength  was  growing  less  from  day  to  day,  as  could 
be  seen  especially  when  he  paid  an  occasional  visit  to  St.  Boni- 
face, as  for  instance  on  the  23rd  of  May,  when  he  came  to  give 
First  Communion  to  the  children,  and  on  Sept.  29th,  his  patron 
feast,  when  he  came  again  to  sing  Hjigh  Mass  and  attend  the 
children's  celebration  in  his  honor.    Within  the  next  month  al- 
ready his  condition  grew  so  bad  that  the  end  was  almost  daily 
looked  for,  which,  however,  did  not  come  until  Tuesday,  Nov. 
9th,  when  at  the  hour  of  12  he  peacefully  passed  to  his  reward, 
edifying  all  present  with  the  heroic  patience  amid  the  most  ex- 
cruciating pains,  in  which  he  persevered  until  the  end.     The 
tolling  of  bells  of  all  the  Catholic  churches  announced  the  sad 
message  that  Father  Weis  was  dead,  and  the  universal  gloom 
that  overcast  the  city,  showed  the  love  and  esteem  in  which  the 
venerable  pastor  was  held  by  all.    Special  services  for  the  repose 
of  his  soul  were  arranged  at  once,  consisting  of  a  daily  Requiem 
Mass  in  the  morning  and  the  Rosary  at  night  until  the  day  of  the 
funeral.    The  precious  remains  were  at  once  removed  to  the  par- 
sonage, where  they  lay  in  state  from  Sunday  afternoon  till  Mon- 
day, when  at  3  o'clock  they  were  borne  in  procession  to  the 
church,  to  be  viewed  by  the  public  until  8  :30  A.  M.  of  the  follow- 
ing day,  the  time  set  by  the  bishop  for  the  burial  service.    A  full 
account  of  this  is  given  in  an  entry  of  Edward  Sohm,  Sr.,  secre- 
tary of  the  church  board,  in  the  parish  records  under  date  of 
Nov.  16th,  from  which  we  quote  the  following: 

"Early  this  morning  the  various  societies  met  at  the  par- 
sonage, from  where,  at  8 :30  o'clock  they  marched  to  St.  Boniface 
Church  and  took  their  respective  places.  At  the  appointed  time 
the  Office  of  the  Dead  was  said,  folowed  with  the  Solemn 
Requiem  Mass,  celebrated  by  Rev.  Bernadine  Weis,  O.  F.  M.,  a 
brother  of  the  deceased,  assisted  by  Rev.  Joseph  Meckel,  of 


jBenewlettt 


^EO.YONDERHAAR 

PRES. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION  77 

Alton,  111.,  and  Rev.  A.  Zurbonsen  of  St.  Mary's,  this  city,  Rev. 
A.  G.  Kunsch,  of  St.  Boniface,  master  of  ceremonies.  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  James  Ryan,  of  Alton,  111.,  assisted  at  the  throne.  Fol- 
lowing the  Mass,  Rev.  Joseph  Meckel  delivered  a  short  and 
tender  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  in  which  he  re- 
called the  many  functions  in  which  he  took  part,  the  Baptisms 
and  Marriages,  and  the  many  Communions  he  administered  to 
children  and  older  members  of  the  parish.  After  the  sermon  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Ryan  conducted  the  Absolution.  This  concluded 
the  services  at  the  church,  and  the  casket  was  closed  and  carried 
by  the  pall-bearers,  Edward  Sohm,  George  Fischer,  Joseph 
Lubbe,  Frank  Sonnet,  Oscar  P.  Huck,  Jos.  Jacoby,  John  Sohm 
and  Frank  Hellmer,  from  the  church  to  the  hearse,  which  was 
drawn  by  four  white  horses. 

The  funeral  cortege  slowly  moved  toward  St.  Boniface  Cem- 
etery.   The  entire  funeral  was  under  the  direction  of  Joseph  J. 
Freiburg,  while  Joseph  H.  Sohm  was  the  chief  marshal,  assisted 
by  Hy.  Wiskirchen  and  Wm.  Krewet.  Each  society  was  in  charge 
of  its  own  marshal.     The  funeral  procession  was  headed  by  a 
cross-bearer  and  twenty-five  altar  boys,  followed  by  the  school 
children  numbering  204.    Next  came  the  societies  in  rotation  as 
follows :    Young  Ladies'  Sodality,  St.  Elizabeth  Ladies'  Society, 
St.  Boniface  Men's  Society,  St.  Joseph  Young  Men's  Society,  St. 
Nicholas  Branch,  No.  1,  W.  C.  U.,  St.  Peter's  Branch  No.  16,  W. 
C.  U.,  St.  Aloysius  Orphan  Society.    All  societies  were  well  rep- 
resented.    The  mourners  all   walked  four  abreast,  the  hearse 
being  followed  by  the  principal  mourners,  the  local  and  visiting 
clergy,  and  Sisters  of  the  various  institutions  of  the  city  in  car- 
riages.    After  the  solemn  procession  reached  the  cemetery,  the 
mourners  opened  rank  from  the  entrance  to  the  grave,  to  where 
the  casket  was  carried,  followed  by  the  principal  mourners,  after 
which  the  procession  joined  and  closed  in,  the  choir  singing  the 
Miserere  on  the  way  to  the  grave.    After  the  usual  prayers,  the 
casket  was  lowered  and  the  solemn  service  came  to  a  close,  after 
which  all  had  an  opportunity  to  drop  the  sprig  of  cedar  which 
each  carried,  into  the  grave.    Besides  the  bishop,  Rt.  Rev.  James 
Ryan,  a  great  number  of  visiting  priests  were  present.     As  a 
finale  it  may  be  said  that  old  St.  Boniface  Church  was  filled  to 
overflowing  at  the  funeral,  many  were  compelled  to  stand,  and 
during  the  entire  night  previous  to  the  funeral,  where  the  corpse 
lay  in  state,  a  continuous  stream  of  citizens  passed  the  bier  to 


78  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


give  the  last  farewell  look  to  the  distinguished  priest  and 
citizen." 

On  the  same  day  the  following  beautiful  tribute  to  Father 
Weis  appeared  editorially  in  the  Quincy  Herald : 

"Today  a  cititzen  of  Quincy,  who  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
had  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the  lives  of  hundreds  of 
Quincyans,  was  borne  to  his  grave.  No  municipal  politician,  no 
famed  financier,  no  giant  in  the  world  of  business,  was  the  man 
who  was  given  today  the  distinguished  honors  of  a  most  stately 
and  solemn  burial.  Even  in  this  age  honors  are  given  to  the 
man  who  has  consecrated  his  life  to  other  than  earthly  and  nat- 
ural pursuits.  Citizens  of  Quincy,  regardless  of  religion,  will 
revere  the  memory  of  Dean  Michael  Weis.  To  the  members 
of  the  parish  he  was  indeed  a  father,  and  they  feel  keenest  the 
grief  of  his  passing.  To  others,  not  members  of  St.  Boniface,  and 
to  the  entire  city,  Dean  Weis  had  been  known  as  a  good  priest, 
a  saintly  man,  whose  life,  as  nearly  as  can  be  in  this  age,  was 
dedicated  to  the  service  of  God. 

"The  extent  or  the  exact  nature  of  the  work  which  a  man 
like  Dean  Weis  does  for  a  community,  is  difficult  to  determine, 
yet  silent  and  far-reaching  are  the  results  of  the  faithful,  religious 
ministrations  of  a  good  priest.  In  the  quarter  century  in  which 
Dean  Weis  had  been  at  St.  Boniface,  the  world  has  been  fast 
losing  its  religious  moorings.  To  men  like  the  Dean,  who  was 
buried  today,  has  been  given  the  great  mission  to  keep  humanity 
out  of  the  ruins  and  unhappiness  of  the  life  of  sordidness  and 
self-gain.  The  honest  and  sincere  man  of  religion  leaves  a  last- 
ing impression  and  influence  for  the  good  in  the  community  in 
which  he  has  worked.  Citizens  of  Quincy,  Protestant  and  Cath- 
olic, are  scattering  the  flowers  of  informal  eulogies  over  the  body 
of  Dean  Michael  Weis.  Peace  to  his  ashes." 

Just  a  week  later,  a  letter  was  received  from  the  bishop,  in 
which  Father  Kunsch  was  appointed  acting  rector  of  St.  Boni- 
face until  July  1st,  of  the  folowing  year,  the  date  set  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  new  permanent  pastor,  and  in  which  was  inclosed 
the  subjoined  communication  to  be  read  to  the  parish  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday: 

Dear  Brethren  of  St.  Boniface: 

The  sympathy  of  the  whole  diocese  goes  forth  to  you  in  the 
death  of  your  pastor,  the  venerable  Dean  Weis.  The  years  of  his 


-£!  WPWEISENHORN       :     JOS.H.LL»BBE.'S 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 


priesthood  covered  in  very  large  part  the  years  of  the  diocese 
itself.  He  began  amidst  its  early  struggles  and  hardships,  and 
was  always  well  at  the  front  in  all  its  works  and  labors.  He 
held  many  offices,  and  filled  them  all  with  the  same  devoted  ex- 
actness and  marked  ability  as  you  have  witnessed  in  his  care  of 
this  large  and  important  parish  for  more  than  twenty  years. 

The  animating  motive,  the  overmastering  principle  of  his 
life,  was  the  thought  of  duty  —  to  do  the  holy  will  of  God,  to  walk 
in  the  way  of  His  commandments  and  the  precepts  of  His  Holy 
Church;  and,  in  the  spirit  and  requirement  of  his  high  vocation 
to  lead  all  within  his  care  and  influence  to  do  likewise.  In  the 
laxness  and  looseness  of  the  time  such  a  life  of  unswerving 
duty,  day  in  and  day  out  through  so  loug  a  course  of  years,  is 
sublime  in  its  lesson  to  us  all.  The  genuineness  of  the  heart  of 
the  man  and  the  true  priest  of  God  showed  itself  especially  in 
the  care  of  the  school  and  his  constant  fatherly  interest  in  the 
children  and  all  that  pertained  to  them  —  the  last  effort,  the  last 
strain  of  his  physical  powers  was  to  be  with  them  in  their  little 
festival  of  honor. 

We  accompany  him  with  the  Holy  Sacrifice  and  our  prayers 
to  the  footstool  of  God,  confident  that  few  go  forth  from  the 
world  better  prepared.  The  sense  of  his  great  work,  my  breth- 
ren, grew  upon  you  with  the  years,  and  what  impressed  most  in 
the  magnificent  Requiem,  with  which  you  consigned  what  was 
mortal  of  him  to  the  grave,  was  the  knowledge  that  your  whole 
heart  was  in  it.  In  the  words  of  Holy  Scripture:  Blessed  are 
the  dead,  who  die  in  the  Lord;  for,  behold,  now  they  have  rest 
from  their  labors  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

JAMES  RYAN,  Bishop  of  Alton. 

To  the  beautiful  tribute  contained  in  these  words  the  writer 
wishes  only  to  add  the  statement  that  he  considers  it  one  of  the 
greatest  graces  of  his  life  to  have  had  the  privilege  of  beginning 
his  own  priestly  career  under  the  guidance  of  so  saintly  as  well 
as  learned  a  man  as  Father  Weis. 

During  the  time  which  elapsed  between  the  death  of  Father 
Weis,  Nov.  9th,  1909,  and  the  arrival  of  his  successor,  July  1st, 
1910,  nothing  of  special  importance  occurred  in  the  parish.  As 
an  item  of  interesting  information  we  might  mention  that  on 
April  4th,  1910,  the  Sisters  of  St.  Vincent  Home  celebrated  the 
25th  anniversary  of  their  arrival  in  Quincy,  which  occasion  was 


80  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


celebrated  by  all  the  Catholic  parishes  conjointly,  in  each  of 
which  a  special  house  collection  was  taken  up  for  the  Home, 
which  resulted  in  a  total  of  $2,073.00,  of  which  $530.45  came  from 
St.  Boniface. 

About  this  time  the  organ  of  the  church  was  again  in  need 
of  repairs  consisting  of  tuning  and  the  adjustment  of  its  action, 
which  caused  an  outlay  of  $70.60,  but  left  the  instrument  in  better 
shape  than  it  had  ever  been  before. 

A  day  of  most  happy  memories  for  the  writer  was  the  Feast 
of  the  Blessed  Trinity,  May  22nd,  when  he  had  the  privilege,  for 
the  first  time  in  his  priestly  career,  of  admitting  to  their  First 
Communion  a  class  of  children  whose  names  are  as  follows : 
Richard  Brandt,  Otto  Duker,  Elmo  Ernst,  Arthur  Gehring,  Ed- 
ward Gehring,  Austin  Jacobs,  Walter  Jansen,  Carl  Kaltenbach, 
Emmet  Kientzle,  George  Konefes,  Frank  Rexing,  Frank  Siepker, 
Frank  Steinkamp,  Albert  Schwarte,  John  Terliesner,  Austin 
Terwische,  Edward  Timpe,  Joseph  Ulrich,  Lawrence  Weltin. 
M]arion  Wilde,  Helen  Boedige,  Elizabeth  Brandt,  Mary  Brandt, 
Elizabeth  Buschmann,  Elizabeth  Entrup,  Irene  Feld,  Gertrude 
Freiburg,  Martha  Granacher,  Clara  Johannes,  Edith  Joseph, 
Clara  Loenker,  Marie  Mast,  Marie  Menke,  May  Bell  Meyer, 
Martha  Meyer,  Marie  Mueller,  Dorothy  Rehm,  Florence  Rupp, 
Mildred  Schmitt,  Leona  Stegemann,  Helen  Timpe  and  Gertrude 
Winking.  May  they  ever  persevere  as  pure  and  innocent  as  they 
were  on  that  solemn  occasion ! 

RECTORSHIP  OF  FATHER  DEGENHARDT. 

The  Renovator  oi  St.  Boniface. 

July  1st,  19 1O. 


The  gloom  that  had  been  cast  over  St.  Boniface  Parish  at 
the  death  of  Father  Weis.  began  to  be  dispelled  when  the  parish- 
ioners learned  of  the  appointment  of  so  worthy  a  successor  as 
Father  Degenhardt,  who  for  31  years  had  filled  a  most  difficult 
charge  at  Collinsville,  where,  in  spite  of  obstacles,  however,  he 
had  accomplished  things  that  sent  his  fame  before  him.  Father 
Degenhardt  was  scheduled  to  arrive  in  Quincy  July  1st,  and  of 
the  reception,  both  informal  that  same  day,  as  well  as  formal  on 
the  following  Sunday,  Secretary  Edward  Sohm  gives  the  follow- 
ing detailed  account  in  his  record  under  date  of  July  3rd: 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 81 

"Father  Kunsch  was  informed  by  Rev.  Father  Degenhardt 
that  he  would  arrive  in  Quincy  Friday  evening,  July  1,  1910.  and 
by  prior  arrangement  Father  Kunsch  and  Edward  Sohm  were 
appointed  and  requested  to  meet  Father  Degenhardt  at  Han- 
nibal, Mo.,  to  act  in  part  as  an  advance  reception  committee.  The 
committee  performed  their  duty  and  met  our  esteemed  new 
rector  at  Hannibal,  where  they  had  the  pleasure  of  making  his 
acquaintance  and  bidding  him  a  hearty  welcome.  On  the  train's 
arrival  at  Quincy,  Father  Degenhardt  was  met  by  the  other 
members  of  the  church  board  and  conveyed  in  an  automobile  to 
his  new  charge,  his  first  visit  being  the  entering  of  St.  Boniface 
Church,  his  new  field  of  labor,  and  offering  up  a  prayer,  no  doubt 
asking  God's  grace,  blessing  and  protection  to  successfully  per- 
form his  arduous  duties  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  Afterwards 
the  party  proceeded  to  the  parsonage,  where  the  ladies  of  the 
parish  had  prepared  a  luncheon,  which  was  enjoyed  amid  good 
cheer  by  all,  and  the  new  rector  was  installed  in  his  new  home. 

This  evening,  Sunday,  July  3,  1910,  the  members  of  St.  Bon- 
iface Congregation  gave  a  public  reception  at  St.  Boniface  School 
Hall  to  their  new  priest,  Rev.  H.  B.  Degenhardt,  who  arrived  in 
Quincy,  July  1,  1910,  from  Collinsville,  111.,  to  take  charge  of  St. 
Boniface  Congregation.  He  was  escorted  to  the  hall  by  the  trus- 
tees and  directors,  where  a  large  number  of  the  congregation  had 
assembled  to  meet  their  new  pastor.  The  hall  was  decorated 
with  palms  and  potted  plants  and  various  banners  of  the  socie- 
ties. Father  Degenhardt  was  given  a  seat  of  honor  in  the  center 
of  the  stage,  his  assistants,  Rev.  A.  Kunsch  and  Rev.  J.  Marion 
seated  on  either  side  of  him,  while  the  trustees  and  directors  oc- 
cupied chairs  on  either  side  of  them.  Rev.  Kunsch  briefly  intro- 
duced Edward  Sohm,  one  of  the  oldest  members  and  for  thirty- 
two  years  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees.  Mr.  Sohm  extended 
a  hearty  welcome  in  behalf  of  the  congregation,  and  then  briefly 
outlined  the  history  of  the  church,  mentioning  incidentally  that 
St.  Boniface  Church  was  the  oldest  German  church  on  the  entire 
Mississippi  River.  The  church  was  founded  in  1837,  and  two 
years  hence  can  celebrate  its  Diamond  Jubilee  which  can  be  made 
a  most  notable  Catholic  event  in  the  Catholic  history  of  Quincy. 
Father  Degenhardt  responded  in  his  quiet,  modest  manner,  ex- 
pressing his  heartfelt  thanks  for  the  magnificent  style  in  which 
he  had  been  treated  since  his  arrival  and  for  the  reception  ten- 
dered, giving  him  an  opportunity  to  meet  his  parishioners  face 


82  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


to  face.  Father  Degenhardt  also  stated  that  he  was  particularly 
thankful  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Ryan  for  the  retention  of  Rev. 
A.  G.  Kunsch  as  assistant  priest  at  St.  Boniface.  Rev.  Degen- 
hardt's  address  came  from  the  heart,  and  was  so  received  by  his 
audience.  After  the  formality  of  the  reception  had  come  to  an 
end  the  choir  sang  and  the  Columbia  Orchestra  rendered  some 
beautiful  selections,  during  which  the  members  of  the  church 
were  given  an  opportunity  to  shake  hands  with  their  pastor  and 
to  exchange  a  few  words  with  him." 

With  the  advent  of  Father  Degenhardt  as  pastor,  begins  a 
new  era  in  the  history  of  the  parish,  an  era  of  progress  and  im- 
provements, wherefore  we  have  surnamed  him  "The  Renovator 
of  St.  Boniface."  His  first  endeavor  was  to  pay  off  the  remain- 
ing debt  of  the  church,  and  for  this  purpose  different  means  were 
at  once  devised.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  personally  vis- 
ited all  the  members  of  his  flock,  taking  up  a  census  and  inci- 
dentally a  collection  from  which  $3,614.00  was  realized.  An  ice 
cream  social  given  by  the  Young  Ladies'  Sodality  on  Aug.  19th, 
had  already  netted  $100.00.  The  proceeds  of  the  Thanksgiving 
Day  celebration  this  year  reached  the  $1,000.00  mark.  Also  the 
pew  rent  and  the  Sunday  collections  began  to  rise,  whilst  the  in- 
debtedness quickly  fell,  until  now  the  parish  is  entirely  free  from 
encumbrance. 

Simultaneously  with  the  paying  off  of  debts,  a  number  of 
extensive  improvements  were  made  in  and  about  the  premises 
of  the  church.  During  the  summer  of  1911  a  new  granitoid  side- 
walk that  cost  $265.85  was  laid  in  front  of  the  church,  whilst  a 
little  later  the  east  side  of  the  entire  property  as  far  as  the  alley 
received  a  similar  improvement  amounting  to  $440.72. 

During  the  months  of  July  and  August,  1911,  the  whole  in- 
terior of  the  church  was  decorated  by  Hepfinger  Brothers  of  Chi- 
cago, at  the  cost  of  $2,500.00  exclusive  of  the  scaffold,  which  was 
erected  and  removed  by  Wm.  Bauhaus  for  $231.00.  The  decora- 
tion included  the  retouching  of  all  the  statues  in  the  church,  as 
well  as  the  stations  and  their  frames.  Eight  new  paintings  in  the 
form  of  medallions  for  the  ceiling  were  also  comprised  in  the 
contract.  These  medallions,  every  one  a  masterpiece,  are  the 
work  of  Emil  Frei,  the  well-known  artist  of  St.  Louis,  who  is  fast 
becoming  famous  for  his  beautiful  designs  in  stained  glass  win- 
dows which  he  makes  his  specialty.  Two  of  these  new  paintings 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 83 

are  in  the  sanctuary  and  depict  Malachias  and  Melchisedech,  re- 
spectively, who  in  word  and  type  foreshadowed  the  Sacrifice  of 
the  Mass.  Of  the  six  remaining  medallions,  the  four  in  the  front 
represent  the  four  Greek  Fathers  of  the  Church,  SS.  Athanasius, 
Basilius,  Gregory  and  Chrysostom,  who  naturally  should  be  as- 
sociated with  the  four  Latin  Fathers  already  portrayed  in  the 
sanctuary  windows ;  whilst  the  two  in  the  rear  and  near  the  choir- 
loft  show  David  and  St.  Cecilia,  the  Old  and  New  Testament 
patrons  of  music.  To  defray  the  expense  of  this  work  of  decor- 
ating the  church,  Father  Weis,  the  late  pastor,  had  left  $800.00, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Oenning  had  donated  $800.00,  Mrs.  Theresa  Tenk 
$500.00,  the  late  Henry  Tenk  $300.00.  The  balance  was  defrayed 
by  means  of  a  second  house  collection  taken  up  by  Father  Degen- 
hardt  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  which  brought  the  sum  of  $3,252.30. 

Whilst  Hepfinger  Brothers  were  frescoing  the  church,  Sister 
M.  Engelberta  of  the  Order  of  Notre  Dame,  as  mentioned  before, 
went  to  work  to  retouch  the  beautiful  paintings  of  the  high  altar 
and  of  the  baptistry,  for  which  work  the  Misses  Heuer  contrib- 
uted $100.00  and  Mrs.  Crescentia  Surmeyer  $50.00. 

When  the  frescoing  had  been  completed,  the  pews  received 
attention.  The  projecting  panel  mouldings,  which  for  many  years 
had  been  causing  discomfiture  to  the  good  parishioners  of  St. 
Boniface,  especially  during  lengthy  sermons,  were  replaced  with 
smaller  ones,  after  which  the  entire  church  furniture  was  re- 
varnished.  The  carpenter-work  of  this  improvement  was  done 
by  Wm.  Bauhaus  at  a  cost  of  $142.90,  whilst  the  painter's  con- 
tract, awarded  to  J.  E.  Houchens,  successor  to  Geo.  Starmann, 
called  for  $163.95.  The  pulpit,  and  the  altar  of  the  Sorrowful 
Mother  in  the  baptistry  were  also  repainted  and  regilded,  which 
latter  work  was  artistically  executed  by  our  own  John  Sohm, 
who  also  painted  the  panel  pictures  for  the  pulpit,  representing 
the  four  Evangelists.  Next  the  electric  lighting  system  was  per- 
fected by  adding  a  row  of  concealed  lights  with  powerful  re- 
flectors on  each  side  of  the  sanctuary,  which  throw  a  flood  of 
brightest  light  upon  the  altar,  whilst  a  number  of  visible  lights 
of  low  candle-power  were  set  into  the  frames  around  the  paint- 
ings of  the  high  altar,  the  cross  of  which  was  illuminated  in  a 
similar  way.  The  old  style  carbon  filament  bulbs  in  the  entire 
church  were  replaced  with  the  more  satisfactory  and  economical 
tungsten  variety.  These  improvements  were  carried  out  by  the 


84  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Gem  City  Electric  Co.,  at  a  cost  of  $143.37,  of  which  $100.00 
was  donated  by  Joseph  J.  Freiburg,  the  balance  being  made  up 
of  smaller  donations. 

Finally  the  outer  wood-work  of  the  church  received  a  new 
coat  of  paint  which  cost  $170.00,  whilst  the  cross  of  the  steeple 
was  regilded  and  the  ridges  repainted  at  a  cost  of  $108.00  for 
labor  and  $57.90  for  material.  This  latter  work  was  done  by  H. 
B.  Hayne,  a  steeple-jack  of  exceptional  daring,  who  spurned  the 
idea  of  erecting  a  scaffold,  simply  using  a  series  of  ropes  and 
blocks  to  raise  himself  to  his  sphere  of  operation. 

As  an  additional  equipment  for  the  interior  of  the  church,  the 
two  votive  candelabra  which  stand  before  the  altars  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  and  St.  Joseph,  and  are  valued  at  $65.00  each, 
were  donated  by  Mrs.  Geo.  Fischer  and  Mirs.  Geo.  Starmann,  the 
latter  also  ordering  from  Max  Schneiderhahn  the  well-known 
sculptor  of  St.  Louis,  the  artistic  wood-carved  statue  of  St.  Anne 
that  is  seen  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  beneath  the  gallery,  and 
cost  $150.00.  Truly  these  improvements,  made  already  in  the 
very  beginning  of  Father  Degenhardt's  career  at  St.  Boniface, 
remind  one  of  the  era  of  Father  Schaefermeyer,  and  if  the  former 
pastor  has  been  styled  "The  Beautifier  of  St.  Boniface"  the  latter 
can  be  truthfully  called  its  "Renovator." 

But  not  only  the  material  element  of  St.  Boniface  is  being 
renovated;  also  the  spiritual  has  been  undergoing  a  similar 
renovated;  also  the  spiritual  is  undergoing  a  similar  process. 
The  first  important  step  in  this  direction  was  made  in  the 
spring  of  1911,  when  Father  Degenhardt,  obedient  to  the  wishes 
of  the  Holy  Father,  admitted  to  their  First  Communion  all  the 
children,  no  matter  of  what  age,  who  were  able  to  discern  this 
Heavenly  Food  and  to  receive  the  same  with  profit.  And  no 
more  touching  sight  was  ever  seen  at  St.  Boniface,  than  when 
these  little  tots  of  7  years,  with  hearts  as  pure  as  lilies  and  with  a 
devotion  that  showed  itself  in  every  feature,  approached  for 
the  first  time  to  receive  their  Lord  and  God,  whom,  under  the 
careful  training  of  parents  and  teachers,  they  had  learned  to  love 
so  well.  May  the  Infant  Saviour  ever  protect  His  own  dear  little 
ones,  and  in  their  childish  innocence  lead  them  always  nearer  to 
Himself! 

Another  event  of  greatest  importance  in  the  spiritual  life  of 
the  parish,  was  the  mission  which  was  conducted  by  the  Re- 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION  85 

demptorist  Fathers,  Peter  Maas  and  J.  Nicholas  Hecker  from 
Oct.  22nd  to  Nov.  2nd  of  1911.  The  sermons  during  the  first 
week  of  this  mission  were  delivered  in  the  German  language, 
whilst  English  prevailed  on  the  remaining  days.  The  various 
exercises  of  this  mission,  even  the  Mass  at  5  o'clock,  were  at- 
tended by  throngs  of  people,  most  of  whom  also  received  the 
Sacraments,  there  being  1,100  Communions  on  record. 

A  special  course  of  sermons  and  conferences  was  held  for 
the  children,  some  of  whom  on  this  occasion  made  their  First 
Communion,  whilst  all  were  invested  with  the  five-fold  scapular 

Of  all  the  exercises  of  the  mission,  there  were  especially 
two  that  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  all  who  witnessed 
them.  The  first  was  the  solemn  consecration  of  the  entire  parish 
to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  which  occurred  on  Saturday  evening,  Oct. 
28th,  whilst  the  altar  of  Mary  was  aglow  with  hundreds  of  lights, 
and  the  other  was  the  closing  ceremony,  which  began  with  a  pro- 
cession of  several  hundred  men,  who  marched  from  the  school 
hall  to  the  church,  carrying  the  mission  cross  before  them, 
which  was  placed  upon  a  beautifully  decorated  and  illuminated 
platform,  around  which  they  gathered  after  the  sermon  to  swear 
with  uplifted  hand  new  fealty  to  their  Saviour  who  had  shed  His 
very  blood  for  them.  Would  that  all  retained  that  fervor  which 
was  manifested  on  this  occasion ! 

As  an  item  of  interest  as  well  as  of  great  importance  during 
Father  Degenhardt's  career  at  St.  Boniface,  we  may  also  men- 
tion the  organization  of  the  "Quincy  Districtsverband"  of  Cath- 
olic Societies,  which  was  effected  Wednesday  evening,  Nov.  22d, 
after  several  preliminary  meetings  had  been  held,  and  which 
unites  for  more  effective  work  along  social  and  other  lines,  the 
various  German  Catholic  organizations  of  Quincy.  As  the  prin- 
cipal means  of  attaining  this  end  the  constitution  provides  not 
only  for  a  monthly  meeting  of  the  executive  board,  but  also  for 
general  meetings  of  all  the  members  at  least  four  times  a  year, 
during  which,  besides  the  business  feature  and  the  entertainment 
which  are  not  lost  sight  of,  lectures  and  debates  on  pertinent 
topics  shall  take  place  and  be  engaged  in  by  all  who  may  desire. 
The  first  meeting  of  this  kind  was  held  at  St.  Boniface  Hall  Jan. 
15th,  at  which  Father  Timothy  Magnien,  O.  F.  M.,  professor  at 
St.  Francis  College,  and  one  of  the  prime  factors  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  "Districtsverband,"  spoke  interestingly  and  in- 


86  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


structively  on  its  nature  and  import,  followed  by  Father  Degen- 
hardt  who  gave  his  ideas  on  the  "Catholic  Gentleman."  Since 
then  similar  meetings  have  been  held  at  all  the  German  Catholic 
parishes,  and  an  appreciable  amount  of  good,  especially  along 
the  lines  of  public  morality,  has  already  been  accomplished.  The 
influence  of  the  German  Catholic  "Districtsverband"  was 
strengthened,  when  a  little  later,  and  subsequent  to  an  address 
by  Anthony  Matre,  national  secretary,  at  St.  Boniface  Hall  on 
Dec.  30th,  1911,  the  English  speaking  societies  also  formed  a 
federation  subsidiary  to  a  state  organization  that  held  its  first 
convention  here  Sept.  29th  and  30th,  and  joined  hands  with  its 
sister  organization  in  Quincy  to  form  the  "Adams  County  Cath- 
olic League."  As  yet  this  League  is  in  its  infancy,  but  when  it 
matures  great  things  can  be  expected. 

The  year  1912  marks  the  Diamond  Jubilee  of  St.  Boniface 
Congregation,  an  event  that  should  not  go  by  unnoticed,  espe- 
cially in  view  of  the  fact  that  already  the  Golden  Jubilee, 
twenty-five  years  prior,  was  so  solemnly  observed.  To  make  the 
necessary  preparations,  a  meeting  of  the  parish  was  called  on 
Sunday,  Aug.  18th,  after  Vespers,  at  which  an  organization 
was  effected  with  Edward  Sohm,  Sr.,  as  president,  Jos.  Fischer, 
secretary,  and  George  Fischer,  Sr.,  as  treasurer,  and  after  the 
general  plan  for  the  exterior  festivities  had  been  outlined,  a 
number  of  committees,  listed  elsewhere  in  this  book,  were  ap- 
pointed, who  have  been  working  day  and  night  to  make  this  the 
grandest  celebration  ever  witnessed  at  St.  Boniface,  the  program 
for  which  precedes  this  history. 

And  now  that  we  have  reviewed  the  past  of  the  parish,  let 
us  hope  that  the  events  recorded  in  these  pages  may  be,  as  all 
history  should,  a  salutary  lesson  to  us  for  the  future ;  warning  us 
to  shun  those  shoals  whereon  our  forefathers  suffered  shipwreck 
before  us,  but  stimulating  us  to  emulate  them  in  all  that  is 
good;  so  that  the  future  historian  of  St.  Boniface,  writing  per- 
haps for  the  parish  Centenary,  may  have  still  greater  achieve- 
ments to  relate  than  those  recorded  in  this  book,  and  the  parish 
may  continue  to  merit  the  title, 

"The  Pearl  of  the  Alton  Diocese." 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


87 


STATISTICS 

St.  Boniface  Congregation 
1837-1912 


Year 

Bap- 
tisms 

Burials 

Mar- 
riages 

Indebt- 
edness 

Year 

Bap- 
tisms 

Burials 

Mar- 
riages 

Indebt- 
edness 

1837 

2 

4 



1877 

148 

82 

22 

$81,639.56 

38 

21 

2 

4 

78 

120 

64 

20 

82.368.00 

39 

28 

13 

2 

79 

125 

59 

33 

83,298.17 

40 

29 

4 

5 

80 

128 

69 

29 

82,978.45 

41 

28 

4 

8 

81 

102 

70 

26 

75,469.17 

42 

35 

6 

6 

82 

128 

71 

37 

70,908.17 

43 

36 

12 

9 

83 

126 

71 

29 

68,387.42 

44 

31 

8 

8 

84 

111 

59 

24 

66,279.30 

45 

28 

5 

11 

85 

119 

49 

21 

61,788.55 

46 

50 

7 

9 

86 

122 

53 

21 

58,574.55 

47 

50 

20 

28 

87 

124 

68 

18 

52,566.70 

48 

102 

2 

19 

88 

93 

65 

25 

50,875.92 

49 

60 

19 

19 

89 

92 

50 

27 

45,066.62 

50 

36 

21 

10 

90 

106 

56 

24 

39,082.48 

51 

143 

108 

38 

91 

85 

67 

12 

36,734.08 

52 

152 

92 

36 

92 

80 

43 

18 

30,734.08 

53 

141 

85 

23 

93 

72 

47 

14 

23,631.13 

54 

186 

151 

45 

94 

81 

50 

14 

18.190.76 

55 

153 

75 

40 

95 

78 

53 

17 

15,814.51 

56 

234 

86 

46 

96 

59 

45 

16 

16,731.70 

57 

236 

114 

50 

97 

57 

42 

7 

12,968.69 

58 

259 

87 

65 

98 

60 

40 

10 

10,762.80 

59 

300 

99 

47 

99 

60 

43 

7 

22,193.30 

60 

298 

126 

35 

1900 

44 

33 

8 

19,391.30 

61 

247 

105 

25 

01 

33 

39 

9 

18.037.18 

62 

196 

98 

31 

02 

20 

50 

8 

15,918.63 

63 

211 

85 

27 

03 

37 

41 

5 

13,927.76 

64 

206 

166 

30 

04 

29 

32 

10 

11,623.24 

65 

203 

112 

36 

05 

36 

25 

8 

7,713.88 

66 

211 

102 

27 

06 

38 

33 

10 

7,860.74 

67 

204 

92 

38 

07 

26 

34 

8 

6,378.88 

68 

152 

70 

26 

08 

29 

39 

10 

5,030.67 

69 

142 

59 

36 

09 

35 

24 

12 

7,699,50 

70 

158 

64 

28 

10 

41 

24 

17 

7,023.40 

71 

147 

50 

26 

11 

31 

41 

18 

3,177.78 

72 

123 

62 

20 

12 

47 

21 

19 

316.45 

73 

168 

77 

27 

74 

154 

61 

26 

75 

127 

56 

32 

76 

132 

74 

17 

88  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


Priests  at  St.  Boniface  Church. 


*  Rev.  August  Brickwedde Aug.  15,  1837- Mar.  16,  1849 

*  Rev.  Peter  Spicher,  S.  J., Apr.  6,  1849-Apr.  18,  1849 

*  Rev.  John  Schultz,  S.  J., Aug.  7,  1849-Oct.  17,  1849 

*  Rev.  Jos.  Kuenster Aug.  15,  1850-Sept.  15,  1857 

*  Rev.   Charles  Raphael 1857- 

*  Rev.  John  Menge Sept.  6,  1857-Oct.  11,  1857 

*  Rev.  John  Reis Oct.  11,  1857- Aug.  26,  1858 

Rev.  A.  Ratte Aug.  18,  1858-Jan.  16,  1859 

*  Rev.  B.  Bartels Oct.  17,  1858-Nov.,  1858 

*  Very  Rev.  Herm.  Schaefermeyer,  V.  G., 

Dec.  18,  1858-Sept.  23,  1872 

*  Rev.  Temmen Sept.  18,  1859-Oct.  10,  1860 

*  Rev.  Raynerius  Dickneite,  O.  F.  M.,  July  2,  1860 

*  Rev.  Rustemeyer Apr.  28,  1861-Mar.  3,  1863 

*  Rev.  Henry  Rinkes June  16,  1863-Sept.  13,  1863 

*  Rev.  Kolopp Sept.  17,  1863-Apr.  19,  1864 

*  Rev.  F.  Witthaut Apr.  24,  1864-Dec.  9,  1864 

*  Rev.  G.  Lueken Dec.  5,  1864-July  24,  1865 

*  Rev.  F.  Reinhart July  9,  1865-Nov.  25,  186? 

Rev.  Schweizer June  19.  1866-Sept.  21,  1866 

Rev.  F.  Stick,  now  at  Highland,  111 

June  30,  1867-Oct.  23  ,1867 

Rev.  H.  Hoven,  now  at  Carlinville,  111 

Nov.  10,  1867-Jan.  19,  1868 

*  Rev.  G.  Kuchenbuch Jan.  22,  1868-Mar.  8,  1868 

Rev.  Th.  Kamann,  now  at  Breese,  R.  R.  1,  (St.  Rose 

111.) Mar.  4,  1868-Apr.  23,  1868 

*  Rev.  Wm.  Schamoni Apr.  19,  1868-Oct.  25,  1869 

*  Rev.  B.  Rosmoeller Oct.  5,  1868-Jan.  22,  1869 

Rev.  H.  Eggenstein,  now  at  Marine,  111 

Nov.  10,  1869-Apr.  19,  1870 

*  Rev.  H.  Beerhorst Mar.  5,  1870-Apr.  20,  1871 

Rev.  W.  Drube,  now  at  O'Fallon,  111 

Nov.  4,  1870-Nov.  30,  1870 

*  Rev.  B.  Glaus Dec.  11,  1870-June  10,  1872 

*  Rev.  G.  Hoppe Jan.  17,  1872-Nov.  5,  1872 

*  Rev.  H.  A.  Hellhake May  5,  1872-Aug.  10,  1872 

*  Rev.  F.  A.  Ostrop Sept.  27,  1872-Sept.  1,  1877 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


Rev.  J.  Rensmann,  now  at  Ridgeway,  111  ........... 

...............................  Nov.,   1872-Dec.,   1872 

*  Rev.  Th.  Wegmann  ..............  Jan.  20,  1873-Oct.  7,  1875 

*  Rev.  L.  Quitter  ..................  Sept.  19,  1875-Dec.  3,  1876 

*  Rev.  F.  Reinhart  ................  Aug.  20,  1876-Oct.  24,  1877 

Rt.  Rev.  John  Jansscn,  now  Bishop  of  Belleville,  111. 

...........................  Sept.  1,  1877-Dec.  31,  1879 

Rev.  A.  Breinlinger,  now  at  MHllstadt,  111  ........... 

............................  Sept.  9,  1877-  Aug.  3,  1878 

Rev.  Joseph  Spaeth,  now  at  Pt.  Huron,  Mich  ...... 

.........................................    1878-1879 

*  Rev.  Corn.  Hoffmans  ............  Aug.  13,  1878-Oct.  27,  1885 

*  Rev.  Theo.  Bruener  ..............  Dec.  13,  1879-Nov.  9,  1887 

Rev.  F.  Budde,  now  at  Mt.  Carmel,  111  .............. 

............................  Oct.  1,  1883-Sept.  1,  1885 

Rev.  Geo.  Pesch,  now  at  Plain,  Wis.,  .............. 

..........................  Oct.  27,  1885-June  26,  1890 

*  Very  Rev.  Michael  Weis,  Dean,.  .  .Nov.  10,  1887-Nov.  9,  1909 
Rev.  F.  X.  Schonlau,  now  in  Germany  ............ 

..........................  June  25,  1890-Sept.  12,  1893 

*  Rev.  Aug.  Gorris  ................  Sept.  13,  1890-Nov.  2,  1896 

Rev.  F.  A.  Niebling,  now  at  M]t.  Sterling,  111  ........ 

............................  July  7,  1895-Dec.  31,  1904 

Rev.  F.  X.  Sturm,  now  in  Germany  ................ 

.................  ..........  Nov.  2,  1896-April  15,  1898 

Rev.  Jos.  Foerster,  now  at  Joliet,  111  ................ 

..........................  April  16,  1898-Nov.  28,  1900 

Rev.  A.  G.  Kunsch  ..............  Jan.  1,  1905- 

Rev.  F.  Neveling,  now  at  Effingham,  R.  R.  3,  111  ..... 

..........................  Feb.  25,  1905-April  27,  1905 

Rev.  Ad.  Schneider,  now  at  Edgewood,  111  .......... 

...........................  July  1,  1906-Aug.  31,  1906 

Rev.  Hy.  Prost,  now  at  Oblong,  R.  R.  1,  111  ......... 

...........................  July  1,  1907-Aug.  29,  1907 

Rev.  Frank  Lucius,  now  at  Alexander,  111  ........... 

...........................  July  1,  1908-Aug.  31,  1908 

Rev.  John  Marion,  now  at  Brighton,  111  ............ 

...........................  Sept.  2,  1908-June  30,  1911 

Rev.  H.  B.  Degenhardt  ..........  July  1,  1910- 

Bold  Face  Indicates  Pastors. 
*  Deceased. 


90  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

OF  THE  PASTORS  OF  ST.  BONIFACE. 


FATHER  BRICKWEDDE 

First  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
Aug.  15th,  1837-March  16th,  1849. 

Father  August  Florentius  Brickwedde  was  born  June  24th, 
1805  at  Fuerstenau,  in  the  kingdom,  now  Prussian  province,  of 
Hanover;  educated  at  the  College  of  Osnabrueck  and  later  at  the 
Universities  of  Muenster  and  Bonn ;  ordained  priest  Sept.  20th, 
1830.  Acted  as  assistant  pastor  in  his  home  city  from  Sept.  20th, 
1831  until  April,  1837,  when,  with  the  permission  of  his  bishop, 
he  set  out  for  the  New  World,  to  devote  himself  to  his  country- 
men who  had  preceded  him  and  were  sorely  in  need  of  priests. 
Was  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  from  Aug.  15th,  1837,  until  Mkrch 
16th,  1849;  afterwards  located  at  Mud  Creek,  (now  St.  Libory) 
Clair  Co.,  111. ;  took  sick  on  a  visit  to  St.  Louis,  and  died  before 
he  could  reach  home,  at  Belleville,  Nov.  21st,  1865. 

FATHER  KUENSTER 

Second  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
Ang.  15th,  185O-Sept.  15th,  1857, 

Father  Joseph  Kuenster  was  born  at  Dueblich,  in  1806. 
Little  is  known  of  his  early  life,  until  his  elevation  to  the  holy 
priesthood  by  Bishop  Kenrick  of  St.  Louis  in  1841.  His  first 
pastoral  charge  was  at  Belleville,  where  he  was  the  first  resident 
priest  and  the  organizer  of  St.  Peter's  Parish,  and  where  we  find 
his  signature,  in  the  church  records  from  Nov.  20th,  1842  to  Sept. 
24th,  1845.  Whilst  stationed  at  Belleville,  Father.  Kuenster  at- 
tended the  missions  at  St.  Libory  (Clair  Co.),  Germantown 
(Clinton  Co.),  Red  Bud  (Randolph  Co.),  Edwardsville  (Madi- 
son Co.)  and  Prairie  du  Long  (Monroe  Co).  In  consequence 
of  misunderstandings  with  his  parishioners  who  even  tried  to 
take  his  life,  he  was  transferred  to  Teutopolis,  where  he  re- 
mained until  August  15th,  1850,  when  he  came  to  Quincy  and 
was  in  charge  of  St.  Boniface  until  the  day  of  his  death,  Sept. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


loth,  1857.  He  was  buried  from  St.  Boniface  Church,  Sept.  16th, 
the  funeral  services  being  conducted  by  Bishop  Juncker,  and  his 
remains  rest  in  St.  Boniface  Cemetery. 

FATHER  SCHAEFERMEYER 

Third  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
Dec.  18th,  1858-Sept.  23d,  1872 

Father  Herman  Joseph  Schaefermeyer  was  born  July  18th, 
1818,  at  Boke  near  Delbrueck,  Paderborn,  Germany.  Ordained 
priest  Aug.  14th,  1843.  Organized  a  parish  at  Niederweniger, 
where  he  labored  with  apostolic  zeal  for  15  years,  until  he  was 
induced  by  Father  Brickwedde  on  his  visit  to  the  Fatherland 
to  come  to  America,  where  he  arrived  Sept.  14th,  1858.  Was 
pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church  from  Dec.  18th,  1858,  to  Sept.  23d, 
1872,  and  vicar-general  of  the  Alton  Diocese  since  Sept.  1860  ; 
left  Quincy  to  join  the  Franciscan  Order  at  Teutopolis,  where 
he  was  invested  in  September  1873,  and  given  the  name  Liborius. 
After  this  he  labored  at  Chicago  (1875-1879),  St.  Louis  (1879- 
1882),  and  Joliet,  returning  to  Quincy,  Nov.  19th,  1886,  where, 
after  a  long  and  patiently  borne  illness  he  died  at  St.  Francis 
Monastery,  May  10th,  1887,  and  was  buried  on  the  13th  from 
St.  Francis  Church. 

FATHER  OSTROP 

Fourth  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
Sept.  27th,  1872-Sept.  1st,  1877. 

Father  Francis  A.  Ostrop  was  born  Sept.  1st,  1823,  at 
Dorsten,  Westphalia;  made  his  first  studies  in  his  home  city 
and  at  Coesfeld  ;  then  took  up  philosophy  and  theology  in 
Muenster.  At  the  invitation  of  Bishop  Juncker  he  came  to 
America,  landing  in  New  York  Nov.  llth,  1858;  was  ordained 
priest,  May  3d,  1859,  and  received  his  first  charge  at  Alton, 
where  he  organized  a  parish  and  built  two  churches  and  two 
schools  ;  was  sent  to  Quincy  about  Sept.  27th,  1872,  and  was 
pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church  until  Sept.  1st,  1877,  where 
he  left  a  lasting  monument  to  his  name  in  the  magnificent 
school  building  which  he  erected  1874-1875  ;  was  transferred 
to  St.  Joseph's  Church  at  Carlinville,  111.,  where  he  continued 
to  labor  with  great  success  until  his  death  which  occurred 
June  30th,  1892. 


92  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


FATHER  JANSSEN 

Fifth  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
Sept.  1st,  1877-Dec.  Slut,  1879. 

Father  John  Janssen,  now  Bishop  of  Belleville,  was  born  on 
March  3d,  1835,at  Keppeln,  Rhineland,  Germany,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  parochial  school  of  his  native  town,  as  also  in 
the  High  School  at  Caleas,  Bishop  College  at  Gaesdonck  and  in 
Muenster.  Was  ordained  priest  at  Alton,  Nov.  19th,  1858, 
by  Bishop  Juncker,  became  pastor  of  St.  John's  Church,  Spring- 
field, 111.,  and  of  the  neighboring  missions ;  then  the  bishop's 
secretary  at  Alton,  and  later  vicar-general  of  Bishop  Baltes. 
On  Sept.  1st,  1877,  he  came  to  Quincy  as  pastor  of  St.  Boniface 
which  position  he  filled  until  Dec.  31st,  1879,  when  he  was 
recalled  to  Alton  to  act  as  pastor  of  the  Cathedral  Parish.  At 
the  death  of  Bishop  Baltes,  Feb.  18th,  1886,  he  became  admin- 
istrator of  the  diocese  of  Alton,  and  after  its  division,  Jan.  7th, 
1887,  also  administrator  of  the  new  see  of  Belleville.  On  the  28th 
of  Feb.  1888,  he  was  elected  bishop  of  Belleville,  where  he  was 
consecrated  at  St.  Peter's  Cathedral  on  April  25th  of  the  same 
year,  and  where  he  continues  to  exercise  the  same  gentle  tact 
in  governing  his  great  diocese,  which  made  him  loved  and  re- 
spected by  all  when  pastor  of  St.  Boniface.  May  God  spare 
the  venerable  Prelate  for  many  years  to  come,  is  the  fervent 
wish  and  prayer  of  the  priests  and  people  of  Belleville  and 
of  Quincy. 

FATHER  BRUENER 

Sixth  Pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
Dec.  31st,  1879-Nov.  lOth,  1887. 

Father  Theodore  Bruener,  the  son  of  a  poor  cobbler  of 
Recklinghausen  in  Westphalia,  Germany,  was  born  May  27th, 
1836.  He  began  his  studies  in  his  home  city  and  finished  them 
at  Muenster.  Was  ordained  priest,  Dec.  3d,  1859,  and  sent 
to  Gescher  in  the  district  of  Coesfeld  to  take  charge  of  a  pri- 
vate school ;  was  afterwards  school  teacher  at  Wadersloh,  dis- 
trict of  Beckum,  from  the  fall  of  1862  to  the  fall  of  1867,  when 
he  came  to  America  with  Bishop  Juncker.  Was  first  sent  to 
Mascoutah,  Dec.  14th,  1867;  on  Jan.  1st,  1868,  he  receiv- 
ed his  appointment  as  the  first  pastor  of  St.  Mlary's  Church 
in  Quincy;  remained  there  until  May  1st,  1873,  when  at  the 


Jgfr.Sotttfoc*  Social  Club 


H 

X 


EDW.  SQHM,  PreA.      H      u      GEQ.FISCHER,Vic<>-P. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


93 


urgent  request  of  Bishop  Heiss  of  LaCrosse  and  Henm  of  Mil- 
waukee, he  was  allowed  to  take  temporary  charge  of  the  Cath- 
olic Normal  School  of  that  city  that  had  been  organized  by 
the  late  Dr.  Salzmann  in  1871.    Was  sent  as  pastor  tc  ,  St.  Bon- 
iface Church,  Dec.  31st,  1879,  where  he  remained  until  Nov.  N*h. 
1887    when  he  left  Quincy    to  join    the  Franciscan    Order  a 
Teutopolis,    under      the  name  of    Father    Leo.     After     domg 
some  missionary  work  in  various  parishes,  he  was  stationed 
successively  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  San  Francisco,  where 
he  organized  St.  Anthony's  Parish,  and  died  suddenly  May  15th, 
1898. 

FATHER  WEIS 

Seventh  Pastor  ol  S«.  Boniface. 
Nov.  10th,  1887-Nov.  9th,  19O9. 


continued  to  follow  the  same  healthy  employment   at  the  same 
time  devoting  all  his  spare  moments  to  useful  study.    After  a 
short  time  he  was  engaged  as  teacher  in  the  public  school  at 
Teutopolis,  and  after  one  year  he  took  a  sirmlar  pos.t.on  m  t 
CathoHc  school  at  Edwardsville,  where  he  *-£*«»£% 
Believing  himself  called  to  the   sacred  ministry,  he  returnee 
to  St    Joseph's  College  at  Teutopolis,  where  he  pursued  his 
studies  for  three  year's,  and  later  entered  the  Grand  Seminary 
at  Montreal  the  largest  institution  of  its  kind  on  the  continent 
He  was  ordained  a?  Alton  Apri,  4th,  1868,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  parish  at  Vandalia,  where  he  remained  a  year  and  seven 
months     He  was  next  transferred  to  Marme,  and  a  short  time 
later  to  Effingham,  where  he  remamed  five  years  and  erected 
a   handsome   church.     In   1877    ill   health   compelled  to    seek 
relief  in  California,  but  he  returned  after  some  time  and  be 
am    chancellor  of  the  Alton  Diocese,  which  posmon  he  he  d 
until  Ian    1st,  1880,  when  at  his  own  request  he  was  sent  tc 
Salte  Co.  and  afterwards  to  Litchfield  and  Springfield,  whence 


94  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


on  Nov.  10th,  1887,  he  came  to  Quincy  as  dean  for  the  coun- 
ties of  Adams,  Brown  and  Pike,  and  pastor  of  St.  Boniface, 
which  double  position  he  filled  until  his  death  which  occurred 
Nov.  9th,  1909. 

FATHER  DEGENHARDT 

Eighth  Pastor  oi  St.  Boniface, 
July  1st,  11)10 

Father  Henry  B.  Degenhardt  was  born  at  Alton,  May  16th, 
1855.  He  attended  St.  Mary's  School  of  that  city  until  the  age 
of  13,  when  he  continued  his  studies  for  two  years  at  the  Ca- 
thedral School.  After  this  he  was  given  private  instruction, 
first  by  Father  Janssen,  who  was  then  vicar-general  to  Bishop 
Juncker,  and  afterwards  by  Fathers  Francis  Lohmann  and 
John  Moore,  also  of  the  local  clergy.  At  the  age  of  16  he  went 
to  St.  Joseph's  College  at  Teutopolis,  but  left  again  after 
one  year's  time  to  go  to  Ruma  in  Randolph  County,  where 
in  those  days  a  diocesan  college  was  conducted,  and  where 
after  four  years  he  completed  his  classical  and  philosophi- 
cal courses.  He  then  took  up  the  study  of  theology  at  St. 
Francis,  Milwaukee,  and  after  three  years  was  ordained 
priest  by  Bishop  Baltes  at  the  Alton  cathedral  on  Aug.  15th, 
1879.  After  celebrating  his  First  Mass  two  days  later  at  the 
parish  church  of  his  boyhood  days,  he  was  assigned  to  the  con- 
gregation at  Collinsville,  where  during  the  31  years  of  his 
pastorate  he  built  a  magnificent  church,  school  and  convent, 
and  accomplished  still  greater  spiritual  good  among  the  mem- 
bers of  his  flock,  until  the  bishop,  recognizing  that  "Macedonia 
had  become  too  small  for  Alexander,"  sent  him,  July  1st,  1910, 
to  succeed  the  late  Dean  Michael  Weis  as  pastor  of  the  more 
important  St.  Boniface  Congregation  of  Quincy,  111.,  where  by 
his  kind  and  gentle  ways  he  has  made  himself  loved  and  re- 
spected by  all  his  parishioners,  who  sincerely  hope  that  he 
may  remain  in  their  midst  to  celebrate  the  centenary  of  the 
parish. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 95 

Sisters  of  Notre  Dame 

At  St.  Boniface  School. 


Yen.  Mother  Seraphine 1859-1860 

Sister    M.    Chrysologa 1859-1860 

Sister  M.  Mathaea 1860-1865 

Sister  M.  Alphonsa 1860-1863 

Sister  M.  Constantia 1860-1861 

Sister  M.  Gisela 1861-1863 

Sister  M.  Camilla 1861-1872 

Yen.  Mother  M.  Boniface 1863-1866 

Sister  M,   Sebastiana 1854-1869 

Sister  M.  Concordia 1865-1870 

Sister  M.  Heriberta 1868-1869 

Sister  M.  Hildaberta 1869-1870 

Sister  M.  DeBritto 1869-1872 

Sister   M.    Benitia 1870-1886 

Sister  M.  Ignatia 1872-1874 

Sister  M.  Gedeona 1875-1892 

Sister  M.  Bernadine 1878-1888 

Sister  M.  Stephania 1883-1891 

Sister  M,.  Sixta 1883-1889 

Sister  M.  Tharsilla 1875-1893 

Sister  M.  Fides 1885-1887 

Sister  M.  Electa 1886-1890 

Sister  M.  Odiliana 1887-1890 

Sister  M.  Erharda 1889-1899 

Sister  M.  Coletina 1890-1897 

Sister  M.  Gratia 1891-1894 

Sister  M.  Athanasia 1891- 

Sister  M.  Veronica 1893-1908 

Sister  M.  Lamberta 1893-1903 

Sister  M.  Alexis 1894- 

Sister  M.  Franzina 1897-1898 

Sister  M.  Geresine 1898-1911 

Sister  M.  Ambrose 1899-1910 

Sister  M.  Martina 1903- 

Sister  M.  Didaca 1908-1909 

Sister  M.  Leo  .  ,.1909- 


96  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Sister  M.  Brunonis 1910-1912 

Sister  M|.  Dolores 1910-1911 

Sister  M.  Avina 1912- 

Sister  M.  Rogeria 1912- 


Lay  Teachers  at  St.  Boniface  School 

At  the  Same  Time  Organiste  and  Musical  Director*. 


Gessner as  early  as  1842 

Ferdinand  Cramer from  1845-1849 

-  Thiele  —1851 

Anthony  Stutte from  1851-1856 

George  Mexal from  1853-1856 

Mr.  Knapp 


,,      T^  !      .  Taugh  school 

Mr.   Kuhnel 

,,,,,,  ^       successively 

Mr.   Mosbach ' 

,,     T~  between 

Mr.  Kappus • 

-.  ,       T  i     AT     i  loOO-loOo. 

Mr.  Joseph  Nadermann 

Mueller from  1858-1859 

Peter  Gottesleben from  1858-1865 

Muehlenmeister  from  1865-1866 

—  Bortscheller 18C5 

Dr.  Michael  Rooney 1865 

Edward  Sohm 1865 

Hy.  Anton  Oenning from  1859-1866 

—  Leifhelm from  1866-1867 

Gressing from  1866-1868 

—  Guethues from  1868-1869 

Fred  Jasper from  1869-1870 

Ignatius  Bergmann  from  1870-1872 

Fred.  Jasper from  1872-1878 

Danler from  1876-1878 

Joseph  F.  Sommer from  1880-1885 

Oscar  P.  Huck from  1880*4888 

George  P.  Willhauck from  1888-1909 

Joseph  Deringer  (organist  only) from  1909-1910 

John  L.  Jung  (organist  only) from  1910-1912 

John  Kieffer 1912 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION  97 


Original  Members  of  St.  Boniface 
C  ongr  egation. 


Michael  Mast Arrived  in  Quincy  1829 

Anton  Konantz Arrived  in  Quincy  1831 

Anton  Delabar  and  family Arrived  in  Quincy  1833 

Adam  Schmitt Arrived  in  Quincy  1834 

Simon  Glass  and  family 

Paul  Specht  and  family Arrived  in  Quincy  1834 

Joseph  Mast Arrived  in  Quincy  1834 

Joseph  Stoeckle  and  family 

M;ichael  Weltin  and  family 

Max    Walliser 

Anton  Guth  and  family 

Jacob  Hildebrand  and  family 

John  Futterer  and  family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Linnemann 

Sigismund    Lesch 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lesch,  Sr Arrived  in  Quincy  1835 

Theresia  Schaepperle 

Theresia  Schaepprle 

Ignaz  Brest  and  family 

John  Koch 

John  Blickhan Arrived  in  Quincy  1835 

Michael  Peter 

John  Oesterle Arrived  in  Quincy  1836 

Christopher  Meyer 

Leonard  Schmitt 

John  Schell  and  family Arrived  in  Quincy  183(5 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Roll  of  Honor 


Oi  those    who    helped   to    build    the    present    St.   Boniface    Chun 
Copied  without  corrections  from  an  old  record  kept  by  Anton 
Lampe,  one  of  their  number. 


Aschermann,  Jos. 
Aschermann,  Bern. 
Ahl,  Dr. 
Bruns, 

Brockhaus,  D.  B. 
Bengert,  Jon. 
Bloemer,  Jos.  Heinr. 
Berassen,  Marg. 
Busch,  Conrad 
Borstadt,  Gerhard 
Bogenschuetz,  Anton 
Brockschmidt,  Jos. 
Brendel,  Adam 
Boecking,  Bern. 
Bueler,  J.  Bern. 
Benneman,  Bern. 
Bleckhanns  (Blickhan?) 
Balkenberg,  John 
Binkert,  Anton 
Bornhorst, 
Brinkwirth,  Theo. 
Backs,  Gerhard 
Coen,  Schneider 
Conniers,  E. 
Dold,  Aloys 
Dinker  &  Kampe 
Dawey  &  Flacha 
Deufenbecher,  Dr. 
Dreyer,  Herm. 
Disseler,  — 
Duerstein,  Mich. 
Dreyer,  Herm. 
Einhaus,  Herm. 
Eissing,  J.  Bern. 
Evers,  Heinr. 
Fortkamp,  Heinr. 
Fischer,  Gebrueder 
Foecke,  Gerh. 
Fragemann,  Herm. 
Funke,  Joh. 
Frankenhoff,  Bern. 
Flaiz,  Xavier 
Funkebusch,  Jos. 
Freiburg,  Fritz 
Fieler,  Heinr. 
Fitzpatrick,  D. 
Foecke,  Diedrich 
Fuchs,  Joseph 
Fuchs,  Lorenz 
Groeninger,  Bern. 
Glass,  Job. 
Gramke,  Heinr. 
Graf,  Peter 


Gesing,  Theod. 

Guth,  Anton 

Glass,  Simon 

Harig,  Wilh. 

Holtmann,  Heinr. 

Hohenadel,  Georg 

Hollaender,  Franz  And. 

Hollaender,  Herm. 

Herbers,  Bern. 

von  der  Heyde,  Bern. 

Hoelker,  Bern. 

Huckelschuiten,  Anton 

Hollebusch,  Dr. 

Haar,  Heinr. 

Hermann,  Joh. 

Hermeling,  Joh. 

Hollaender,  sen. 

Hombach, 

Halleck, 

Herold,  Georg 

Hense, 

Hubert,  Lorenz 

Hildebrand 

Heggens,  David 

Joest,  Jacob  (John) 

Johannes,  Anton 

Janssing,  Heinr. 

Kopf,  Bernh. 

Kunkel,  Phil. 

Kroner,  Gerhard 

Koemann,    Joh.    Bern. 

Knehjans,  Wilh. 

Kroner,  Wilh. 

Kathmann,  Clem. 

Kayser,  Wilh. 

Kamps,  Elis. 

Koetterer, 

Kampe,   Thorn.    &   Dieker 

Kueter,  Gerh. 

Kessels,  Joh. 

Koemann,  Clemens 

Koch,  Soldat 

Kroner,  Jos. 

Kessens,  Herm. 

Lake,  Bern. 

Lake,  Heinr. 

Lake,  Joh. 

Loesch,  Sigmund 

Laage,  G.  Jos. 

Laage,  Agnes 

Lange,  Bern. 

Lampe,  Anton 

Lanting,   Heinr. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


99 


Luebbe,  Anton 
Menke,  Herm. 
Meyer,  Christoph 
Mast,  Joh.  B. 
Mast,  Casper 
Mast,  Joe,  sen. 
Mast,  Joseph,  jun. 
Maerz,  Joh. 
Meyer,  Farmer 
Meyer,  Herm. 
Mans, 

Menas,  Carl 
Meyners,  Heinr. 
Merssmann,  J.  B. 
Mueller,  Maria 
Michael,  Peter 
Niehaus, 

Neuman,  Franz  X. 
Naber,  Franz 
Niemann,  Gerh. 
Ohnemus,  Mat. 
Obert,  Mat. 
Odenstern,  Clem. 
Pickenzaner, 
Pape,  Nik. 
Roever,  Tobias 
Raterman,  Bern. 
Ricker,  Heinr.,  jun. 
Rotermann,  Herm. 
Ricker,  Jos. 
Roth,  Joh.  Ant. 
Reiss, 
Roth,  Joh. 
Schwindler,  Wilb. 
Spoeler,  Herm. 
Starmann,  Gerh. 
Schulte,  Fritz 
Scheel,  Joh.,  jun. 
Schnier,  Joh. 
Stuckenborg,  Jos.  Wwe. 
Schwendemann,  Geo. 
Specht,  Paul 
Sohn,  Jos. 
Schulte,  jun. 
Stark,  Heinr. 
Sehnieders,  Herm. 
Strohberg,  Heinr. 
Sohm,  Pantalem 
Spross,  Barbara 
Steinkamp,  Heinr. 
Stering,  Anton 


Schulte,  Herm. 
Schmitt,  Adam 
Schmitt,  Leonard 
Suenner,  Fried. 
Scheel,  Joh.,  sen. 
Schulte,  Diedrich 
Schroer,  Heinr. 
Sterings,  Frau 
Schlute,  Heinr. 
Schwindler,  B.  H. 
Stukenborg,  Heinr. 
Sehnieders,  Heinr. 
Schuecking,  J.  Bern. 
Soebbing,  Gerhard 
Schuering,  B.  A. 
Schauf,  Heinr. 
Tenk,  Christina 
Terlisner,  Gerh. 
Terhard,  J. 
Timmer,  Jos. 
Tieben,  Gerh. 
Talke,  Alb. 
Talke,  Wilh. 
Talke,  Heinr. 
Tenk,  sen. 
Tervische, 
Tenk,  jun. 
Vens,  J.  Bern. 
Voelker,  Gerhard 
Weltin,  Mich. 
Wellmann,  Franz 
Wellberg,  Heinr. 
Weidemann,  Frau 
Weber,  Bern. 
Woltermann,  Wilh. 
Werner,  Franz 
WuebbelB,  Angela 
Wuebbels,   Elis. 
Wolke, 

Weber,  Heinr. 
Weber,  Wilh. 
Weidemann, 
Wilms, 
Wilpers, 
Witte, 
Wielage, 
Wellmann,  Wilh. 
Zepf, 

Zink,  Phil. 
Zimmermann, 
Zopf,  Ad. 


100 DIAMOND  JUBILEE 

Priests  from  St.  Boniface  Parish. 


This  list  includes  the  names  of  such  priests  only  who  w 
at  one  time  members   of  this   parish.      Some  of   them,   bef< 
their  ordination,  had   affiliated  themselves  with   other  cong 
gations  and  hence  it  is  that  we  find  them  mentioned  on  otl 
lists  and  in  other  company.     Willing  to  share  her  title  in 
such   cases   with   their   mother   of   adoption,   St.    Boniface    s 
claims  them  as  her  sons  by  prior  right,  and  hence  we  subi 
the  following  list  of  priests  from  this  parish,  following  in 
order  in  which  they  were  raised  to  the  priesthood: 

1.  Rev.  Henry  Kalmer,  Born  Dec.  4th,  1834  at  Bowinl 
Hanover;    came    to    Quincy    in    1850;    received    Holy    Ord 
on  March  8th,  1862,  and  died  Sept.  24th,  1884,  at  Louis,  wh 
he  had  been  pastor  of  St.  Augustine's  Church. 

2.  Rev.  Hy.  A.  Hellhake,  son  of  the  late  Casper  Hellha 
was  born  in  Quincy,  Feb.  9th,  1849 ;  attended  St.  Francis  C 
lege,  and  was  ordained  in  St.  Boniface  Church,  April  21st,  18 
Was  pastor  of  St.  St.  Aloysius  Church  in  Sheldon,  Indiana, 
Wayne  Diocese,  where  his  death  occurred  on  Aug.  llth,  1909 

3.  Rev.  Francis  (bapt.  Joseph  Bernard)  Moenning,  O. 
M.,  was  born  at  Bakum,  Germany,  Dec.  28th,  1837,  but  came 
Quincy  at  an  early  age,  and  after  working  for  some  time  at 
shoe-maker's  trade,  took  up  his  studies  at  Cape  Girardeau,  to 
and  afterwards  at  the  local  St.  Francis  College.    Was  inves 
with  habit  of  St.   Francis  at  Teutopolis,  Dec.  18th,   1862,  £ 
elevated  to  the  priesthood  Jan.  13th,  1867.     Was  stationed  s 
cessively    at  St.  Louis,   Teutopolis,    Indianapolis,    Wien  (M< 
Chillicothe,  Cleveland  and  Memphis,    where    he  died    in  con 
quence  of  a  horrible  scalding,  Dec.  28th,  1894. 

4.  Rev.  Jerome  (bapt.  Henry)  Hellhake,  O.  F.  M.,  son  of 
late  Henry  Hellhake,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Quincy,  Aug.  22nd,  18 
invested  with  the  Franciscan  habit  June  16th,  1871,  and  ordaii 
to  the  priesthood  July  25th,  1877.    Labored  at  Teutopolis,  Al 
mont,  St.  Elmo,  St.  Louis,  Hermann  (M^o.),  Humphrey  (Nel 
Superior  (Wis.),  Joliet,  and  Cleveland,  his  present  field  of  lab 

5.  Rev.  Ignatius  Francis  Joseph  Lubbe,  S.  J.,  son  of  the  1 
Anton  Jos.  Lubbe,  was  born  Jan.  29th,  1855.     After  graduat 
at  St.   Boniface  School,  he  received  private  instructions  fr 
Father  Reinhart,  until  he  entered  St.  Francis  College  of  this  c' 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 101 

Continued  his  studies  at  Emmetsburg  (Md.),  from  1877  to  1879, 
when  he  joined  the  Jesuits  in  New  York.  Completed  his  course 
at  Las  Vegas  (New  Mexico),  and  was  ordained  priest  in  Santa 
Fe,  April  24th,  1883.  Was  sent  to  Islita  (Texas),  for  his  health, 
but  died  there  Jan.  10th  of  the  following  year,  admired  and  loved 
by  all  who  knew  him. 

6.  Rev.  Maurus  (bapt.  Francis)  Brink,  O.  F.  M.,  son  of  B. 
H.  Brink,  was  born  in  Quincy,  Nov.  26th,  1856.    Received  private 
instruction  from  Father  Bruener,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  new 
St.  Mary's  Parish,  continued  his  studies  at  the  "Salesianum"  in 
Milwaukee,  until  he  joined  the  Franciscan  Order,  Sept.  7th,  1877. 
Was  elevated  to  the  priesthood  on  May  12th,  1883,  and  celebrated 
his  First  Mass  the  following  day  at  St.  Francis  Church  of  this 
city.  Was  engaged  as  professor  at  Teutopolis  and  Quincy,  when 
on  account  of  ill  health  he  was  sent  successively  to  Phoenix 
(Arizona),  Santa  Barbara  and  San  Francisco  (Calif.),  where  he 
died  April  30th,  1906. 

7.  Rev.   Clement  Johannes,   son-  of  the  late  Clement  Jo- 
hannes, Sr.,  was  born  here  April    10th,  1860 ;    received    private 
instruction  from  Fathers  Wegmann,  Reinhart  and  Ostrop ;  con- 
tinued his  studies  at  Milwaukee  and  Montreal  and  was  ordained 
at  the  latter  place  Dec.  20th,  1884,  after  which  he  celebrated  his 
First  Mass  at  St.  Boniface  on  Christmas  Day.    Was  stationed 
for  some  years  at  Bloomfield,  but  is  now  at  Nokomis,  where  he 
has  built  a  splendid  church  and  parsonage  and  is  accomplishing 
great  good  in  the  midst  of  his  flock.    His  aged  mother  is  still 
living  and  makes  her  home  with  him. 

8.  Rev.  J.  B.  Oeink,  son  of  the  late  Hy.  Oeink,  was  born 
here  Feb.  17th,  1858.     Made  his  studies  at  St.  Francis  College 
and  at  Emmetsburg  (Md.),  where  he  was  ordained  in  August, 
1885,  for  the  Columbus  Diocese.    After  his  First  Mass,  celebrated 
at  St.  Boniface,  Aug.  30th,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  newly 
founded  college  at  Columbus,  but  is  now  at  Fulda,  Noble  Co. 
(P.  O.,  Caldwell),  in  charge  of  the  church  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception. 

9.  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Hurnmert,  son  of  the  late  John  Hummert, 
Sr.,  was  born  here  March  24th,  1860 ;  took  private  instruction 
from  Father  Reinhart ;  continued  his  studies  at  Milwaukee ;  was 
ordained  Sept.  19th,  1885  in  the  city  of  Davenport  and  for  that 
diocese ;  celebrated  his  First  Mass  at  St.  Boniface  on  the  follow- 


102  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


ing  day,  and  was  stationed  at  Earling,  Iowa,  until  ill  health  com- 
pelled him  to  seek  the  milder  climate  of  California,  his  present 
home. 

10.  Rev.  Aug.  Tolton,  first  negro    priest    in    the    United 
States,  was  born  April  1st,  1854  in  Bush  Creek,  Rails  Co.,  Mo.,  of 
slave  parents,  his  father  having  been  baptized  by  Father  Lefevre 
and  given  the  name  of  Peter  Paul.    He  came  to  Quincy  with  his 
mother  when  only  7  years  of  age  and  after  working  for  several 
years  in  a  tobacco  factory,  he  attended  St.   Boniface   School, 
where  he  learned  to  speak  the  German  language.    Later  he  went 
to  St.  Peter's  School,  where  Father  McGirr  first  detected  the 
marks  of  a  latent  vocation  to  the  priesthood.    Received  his  first 
education  in  the  classics  from  the  local  priests,  Fathers  Weg- 
mann,  Reinhart,  Ostrop,  Francis  Albers,  O.  F.  M.,    and    Engel- 
bert  Gey,  O.  F.  M. ;    until,    through    the    mediation    of    Father 
Michael  Richardt,  O.  F.  M.,  he  was  enabled,  in  1880,  to  go  to 
Rome  and  complete  his  studies  at  the  College  of  the  Propaganda, 
where  he  was  ordained  in  the  Church  of  the  Lateran  on  April 
24th,  1886,  by  Cardinal  Parochi.     He  was  assigned  at  once  to 
take  charge  of  the  colored  population  of  Quincy,  amongst  whom 
he  labored  with  heroic  zeal,  until  Nov.  28th,  1889,  when  he  took 
up  his  duties  in  Chicago,  holding  services  at  first  in  St.  Mary's 
Church,  until  the  gift  of  $10,000  from  Mrs.  Anne  O'Neill  enabled 
him  to  build  a  church  of  his  own,   which   he   dedicated   to    St. 
Monica.    Of  this  church  he  was  still  in  charge  when  he  died  July 
9th,  1897,  in  consequence  of  a  sunstroke. 

11.  Rev.  John  Bernard  Schlotmann,  was  born  Aug.   7th, 
1860,  in  the  village  of  Hausstette,  Oldenburg;  received  private 
instruction  till  the  age  of  17,  after  which  he  spent  three  years  at 
college  in  Vechta.     Came  to  Quincy  Oct.  1st,  1880,  where  he 
lived  with  his  uncle,  the  late  Bernard  Schlotmann,  on  Jersey 
street,  and  was  an  active  member  of  St.  Boniface  Parish  and  St. 
Joseph  Young  Men's  Society.    After  working  a  year  at  the  paper 
mill,  he  continued  his  studies  at  St.  Francis  College  and  later  at 
St.  Meinrad's,  Indiana,  where  he  was  raised  to  the  priesthood 
June  9th,  1887.    On  the  12th  of  June  he  celebrated  his  First  Mass 
at  St.  Boniface,  and  is  now  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  Church  at 
Evansville,  Randolph  Co.,  111.,  in  the  diocese  of  Belleville. 

12.  Rev.  William  Liesen,  son  of  the  late  William  Liesen, 
was  born  Sept.  25th,  1861.     He  received  his  primary  education 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION 103 

at  St.  Mary's  School,  after  which  he  learned  the  altar-builder's 
trade,  working  four  years  for  Henry  Schenk.  He  then  continued 
his  studies  at  the  local  St.  Francis  College  and  St.  Meinrad's,  In- 
diana, where  he  was  ordained  June  13th,  1895.  His  First  Mass 
was  celebrated  three  days  later  at  St.  Boniface  Church,  and  he  is 
at  present  stationed  at  Holton,  Indiana,  in  the  diocese  of  In- 
dianapolis. 

13.  Rev.  Max.  Koch,  son  of  the  late  John  L.  Koch,  and  a 
native  of  Quincy,  was  born  April  15th,  1866.     After  graduating 
from  the  parish  school,  he  took  a  course  of  pharmacy  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  and  received  his  degrees  in  1886.     After  working 
for  about  two  years  in  this  profession  he  began  his  studies  for 
the  priesthood,  going  abroad  to  Innsbruck,  Austria,  where  he 
was  ordained  to  the  priesthood,  June  26th,  1896.     His  First  Mass 
was  celebrated  at  St.  Boniface  Church,  on  Sept.  13th,  after  which 
he  was  appointed  assistant  and  later  pastor  at  the  cathedral  of 
Belleville.     After  a  few  .years  of  very  successful  work  in  this  ca- 
pacity, his  health  began  to  fail  and  he  left    for    Gabriels,    New 
York,  in  the  hope  that  the  invigorating  climate  of  the  Adiron- 
dacks  would  restore  him ;  but  his  condition  continued  to  grow 
worse  until  on  Dec.  20th,  1901,  he  passed  to  his  eternal  reward, 
sincerely  mourned  by  a  host  of  friends  and  admirers. 

14.  Rev.  William  Schemer,  son  of  William  Schemer,  Sr., 
was  born  in  Quincy,  April  3rd,  1876,  and  baptized  at  St.  Boniface 
Church.    Deprived  of  both  of  his  parents  when  he  was  only  three 
months  old,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Aloy- 
sius  Orphan  Home,  from  where  he  was  afterwards  sent  to  St. 
Francis  College.     He  continued  his     studies    at     St.     Meinrad, 
Indiana,  and  at  St.  Cloud,  Minn.,  where  he  was  ordained  priest, 
June  loth,  1902.    He  brought  his  First  Offering  to  God,  on  June 
22,  at  St.  Boniface  Church  and  is  now  located  at  West  Union, 
Minn.,    in    the    diocese    of    St.    Cloud,    where    he    is    pastor   of 
St.  Alexis  Church. 

15.  Rev.  Solanus  (Paul)  Rooney,  son  of  the  late  eminent 
physician  and  philanthropist,  Dr.  Michael    Rooney,    was     born 
Sept.  17th,  1877,  received  his  first  education     at     St.     Boniface 
School,  where  formerly  his  father  had  volunteered  his  services 
as  teacher;  after  which  he  made  a  brilliant  course  of  studies  at 
the  local  St.  Francis  College,  the  St.  Louis  University     and     at 
Harvard.     Was  received  into  the  Franciscan  Order,  June  24th, 


104  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


1899,  and  elevated  to  the  priesthood,  June  27,  1903.  Since  then 
he  labored  most  zealously  amongst  the  Mexicans  and  Pima 
Indians  at  Phoenix,  Arizona,  until  declining  health  compelled 
him  to  seek  the  milder  climate  of  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.,  where 
however  he  died  already,  May  24th,  1906,  in  consequence  of  pul- 
monary hemorrhage. 

16.  Rev.  Herman  Joseph  Tenk,  son  of  the  late  John 
Herman  Tenk  of  this  city,  was  born  Oct.  27th,  1874.  He  was 
educated  at  St.  Francis  College,  being  a  graduate  in  the  class  of 
1894.  In  Aug.,  1895,  he  went  abroad  to  continue  his  studies  in 
Rome,  where  he  became  a  member  of  the  Jesuit  Order.  Return- 
ing to  this  country  in  the  following  year,  he  attended  the  St. 
Louis  University,  where  he  received  Holy  Orders  in  1909.  and 
celebrated  his  First  Mass  on  August  28th.  For  several  years 
that  followed,  he  was  professor  at  the  Jesuit  Universities,  at  St 
Louis  and  Cincinnati,  until  in  the  summer  of  1911,  he  was  sent  tc 
the  missionary  fields  of  Central  America,  there  to  labor  amongst 
the  Indians. 


Pupils  of  St.  Boniface  School 


First  Grade 


Second  Grade 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION  105 


Societies  of  St.  Boniface. 


ST.  ELIZABETH  LADIES'  SOCIETY. 

Organized  about  1840. 

Present  Membership :    292. 

Officers:  President,  Mrs.  Alfred  Kurz;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Jos.  Kiefer ;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Geo.  Kohl ; 
Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  George  Klein ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Hy. 
Musholt ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Leonard  Dehner. 


ST.  BONIFACE  BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY. 

Organized  April,  1845. 

Present  Membership :    25. 

Officers:  President,  Geo.  Vonderhaar;  Vice-President,  Jos. 
Terstege;  Rec.  Sec.,  Phil  B.  Koch;  Fin.  Sec.,  Jos.  Jacoby;  Treas- 
urer, Hy.  Steinkamp,  Sr. 


ST.  ALOYSIUS  ORPHAN  SOCIETY. 

Organized  Nov.  30,  1851. 

Present  Membership :  About  200. 

Officers :  President,  Chris.  Ward ;  Vice-President,  Hy.  Wm. 
Friederich;  Rec.  Sec.,  Henry  Freiburg;  Fin.  Sec.,  Herman 
Heintz;  Treasurer,  August  Stroot.  Trustees,  Fred  Wolf,  Sr., 
Fred  Rupp,  Wm.  Weisenhorn,  John  Sohm,  Jos.  Lubbe,  Frank 
Sonnet. 

ST.    JOSEPH    YOUNG   MEN'S    SOCIETY. 

Organized  Jan.  27,  1856. 

Present  Membership:    113. 

Officers:  President,  Rev.  A.  G.  Kunsch;  Vice-President, 
John  Otten;  Rec.  Sec.,  Frank  Hummert;  Fin.  Sec.,  Romeo 
Wiskirchen,  Treasurer,  Leo  Wiskirchen.  Trustees,  Edward 
Sohm,  Sr.,  John  Sohm,  Oscar  P.  Huck,  Will  Sohm,  Joseph  J. 
Fischer,  Edw.  Hellmer. 


106  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


SOCIETY  OF  THE  HOLY  CHILDHOOD. 
(Kindheit  Jesu  Verein.) 

Organized  about  1863. 
Membership  about  300. 

YOUNG   MEN'S   SODALITY. 

Organized  in  1863. 

Present  Membership :    146. 

Officers:  President,  Michael  Schmeing;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Cyril  Moller;  Second  Vice-President,  Austin  Terwische; 
Secretary,  Paul  Huck;  Treasurer,  Richard  Huck;  Consultors, 
Paul  Treibel,  Ambrose  Musholt,  Henry  Boedige,  Jerome  Jansen, 
Walter  Jansen,  John  Terliesner;  Sacristans,  Herbert  Triebel, 
Frank  Weber;  Librarians,  Herbert  Sohm,  Paul  Klein. 

CONFRATERNITY  OF  THE  HOLY  AGONY 
(Todesangstbruderschaft.) 

Established  March  23,  1865. 

ST.  STEPHEN'S  AID  SOCIETY. 

Organized  Sept.  18,  1870 ;  dissolved  Aug.,  1873 ;  reorganized 
Feb.  12,  1905. 

Present  Membership:    About  125. 

Officers :  President,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fortkamp ;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Mary  Wewer;  Collectors,  Mrs.  Eugene  Flaiz,  Mrs.  Herm. 
Ehrhardt. 

YOUNG  LADIES'  SODALITY. 

Organized  Dec.  8,  1872. 

Present  Membership :    248. 

Officers :  President,  Miss  Colletta  Jochem ;  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Miss  Helen  Hellmer;  Second  Vice-President,  Miss  Estelle 
Friederich ;  Secretary,  Miss  Margaret  Huck;  Consultors,  Miss 
Henrietta  Glass,  Miss  Anna  Weisenhorn,  Miss  Leona  Vanden- 
boom,  Miss  Anna  Kiefer,  Miss  Frances  Ricker,  Miss  Helen 
Gehring;  Sacristan,  Miss  Frances  Ricker;  Librarians,  Miss  Helen 
Heintz,  Miss  Irma  Friebel,  Miss  Helen  Rupp. 


Pupils  of  St.  Boniface  School 


Third  Grade 


Fourth  Grade 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 107 

ST.  NICHOLAS  BRANCH  NO.  1,  W.  C.  U. 

Organized  Nov.  1,  1877. 

Present  Membership:    About  315. 

Officers :  President,  Baltas  Schullian ;  Vice-President,  Al- 
aert  J.  Maas;  Rec.  Sec.,  Jos.  Motzenbacker ;  Fin.  Sec.,  Jos.  Ja- 
:oby ;  Treasurer,  John  B.  Glass ;  Marshal,  Anton  H.  Lechten- 
3erg;  Banner  Bearer,  Jos.  J.  Brinkmann.  Trustees,  Jos.  J.  Frei- 
3urg,  Peter  Jochem,  Frank  J.  Kalmer,  J.  Henry  Jansen,  Jos. 
Laacke. 

THE  APOSTLESHIP  OF  PRAYER. 
(Sacred  Heart  League.) 

Established  Dec.,  1878. 

ST.  PETER'S  BRANCH  NO.  16,  W.  C.  U. 

Organized  April  21,  1880. 

Present  Membership :    About  135. 

Officers:  President,  J.  W.  Markus;  Vice-President,  Geo.  J. 
Jost;  Rec.  Sec.,  Carl  Ridder;  Fin.  Sec.,  Hy.  Ording;  Treasurer, 
Jos.  J.  Fischer.  Trustees,  Jos.  Lubbe,  Henry  Meiners,  Peter 
Schell,  Henry  Althoff,  John  Ubbing. 

ST.  BONIFACE  SOCIAL  CLUB. 

Organized  Sept.  19,  1904. 

Present  Membership:    158. 

Officers :  President,  Edward  Sohm,  Sr. ;  Vice-President, 
Geo.  Fischer,  Sr. ;  Rec.  Sec.,  Will  Sohm ;  Fin.  Sec.,  Edw.  J.  Hell- 
mer;  Treasurer,  Jos.  J.  Fischer.  Trustees,  Rev.  A.  G.  Kunsch, 
Oscar  P.  Huck,  Frank  Sonnet,  Jos.  J.  Freiburg. 


108  DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


Volunteer  Organizations. 

St.  Boniface  Congregation. 


Church  Choir. 

Soprano — The  Misses  Clara  Lubbe,  Frances  Lubbe,  Clara 
Duker,  Frances  Ricker,  Catherine  Otten,  Louise  Menke,  Eliza- 
beth Kuhlmann,  Josephine  Rummenie,  Estelle  Friederich,  Clara 
Bauhaus. 

Alto — The  Misses  Mary  Menke,  Clara  Dirkers,  Mary  Rein- 
ert,  Cornelia  Reinert. 

Tenor — Messrs.  Phil  B.  Koch,  Jos.  Kiefer,  Christian  Zwick, 
Edw.  J.  Fuchs,  Frank  Johannes. 

Bass. — Messrs.  Joseph  H.  Lubbe,  John  A.  Sohm,  Albert 
Ridder. 

Altar  Boys. 

Alfred  Bernhardt,  Frank  Bernhardt,  Maurice  Buschmann, 
Louis  Bockenfeld,  Arthur  Bessling,  George  Dehner^  Frank  Dean, 
Carl  Entrup,  George  Entrup,  Robert  Giesing,  Frank  Hartmann, 
Marcellus  Huck,  Raymond  Hilgenbrink,  Walter  Jansen,  Charles 
Johannes,  Leonard  Klarner,  Paul  Klein,  Leo  Kurz,  Paul  Kurz, 
Arthur  Laake,  Anthony  Meyer,  Cyril  Moller,  Ambrose  Musholt, 
Walter  Musholt,  Paul  Ohnemus,  Joseph  Rooney,  Paul  Rum- 
menie, Bernard  Schmeing,  Michael  Schmeing,  George  Schuering, 
Henry  Schuering,  Herbert  Sohm,  Fred  Sueltmann,  Arthur  Ter- 
ford,  Austin  Terwische,  Ralph  Thiemann,  Harry  Timmerwilke, 
Robert  Timmerwilke,  Lawrence  Timpe,  Herbert  Triebel,  Paul 
Triebel,  Leo  Verheyen,  John  Wachtel,  Frank  Weber. 

Columbia  Dramatic  Club. 

Director— Will  H.  Sohm. 

President — John  Ohnemus. 

Vice-President — Dr.  A.  H.  Sohm. 

Frank  Hellmer,  Will  H.  Hfellhake,  John  Muehlenfeld,  Leo 
Muehlenfeld,  Leo  Wiskirchen,  Paul  Weisenhorn,  Carl  Ording, 
E.  Fuchs,  Al.  and  Geo.  Verheyen,  J.  J.  Fischer,  Frank  Loenker, 
Hy.  Steinkamp  (stage  carpenter),  Geo.  Seifert  (stage  manager), 
Lawrence  Weisenhorn,  Miss  Rose  Weltin,  Miss  Nellie  Quin- 
lin,  Miss  Catherine  Weltin,  Miss  Elizabeth  Brandt,  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Kuhlmann,  Bertha  Hellmer. 


Pupils  of  St.  Boniface  School 


Fifth   Grade 


Sixth  Grade 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION          109 

Columbia  Orchestra. 

Director— Prof.  John  Kieffer. 

First  Violin— Rev.  A.  G.  Kunsch,  Richard  Huck,  Paul  Huck. 
Second  Violin— Cyril  Moller,  Ludwig  Zwick,  Hy.  Mueller, 
Ambrose  Musholt. 

Viola — Frank  Hoeckelmann. 

Cello — Jos.  VandenBoom. 

Bass — Frank  Menke. 

Flute  and  Piccolo— Fred    Freiburg,    Carl    Althoff,    George 

Entrup. 

Clarinet— Herbert  Wilde,  Lawrence  Meyer. 

First  Cornet— Carl  Ridder,  Emmet  Kientzle,  Edward  Gehr- 

ing. 

Second  Cornet—  Christian  Zwick,  Herman  Soebbmg. 

French  Horn— Austin  Terwische,  George  Sohm. 

Trombone— Will  H.  Sohm. 

Tuba — Patrick  Lenane. 

Drums  and  Traps— Will  Hellhake,  Milton  Braxmeier. 

Pianist — Albert  Ridder. 

Columbia  Concert  Band. 

Director— Prof.  John  Kieffer. 

First  Cornet— Carl  Ridder,  Emmet  Kientzle,  Edward  Gel 

'Second   Cornet— Christian   Zwick,   Herman   Soebbing,   Hy. 

Mueller. 

Piccolo— Carl  Althoff,  Geo.  Entrup. 

Clarinet-Frank   Menke,   Frank    Hoeckelmann,    Lawrei 
M,eyer,  Herbert  Wilde. 

Saxophone— Fred  Freiburg. 

Melophone — Cyril  Moller. 

French  Horn— Austin  Terwische,  George  Sohm. 

Baritone— Rev.  A.  G.  Kunsch. 

Trombone— Will  H.  Sohm,  Walter  Jansen,  Jos.   Kiefer. 

Tuba— Patrick  Lenane,  Ludwig  Zwick. 

Drums  and  Traps-Will  H.  Hellhake,  Milton  Braxmeier. 


110 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Parish  Records  of  1912. 


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25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 


Baptisms. 

Born 
Hilgenbrink,  Sylvia  Irene  Mathilda ....  Jan.    5,  '12 

Zengel,  Walter  Joseph Jan.    7,  '12 

Keck,  Raymond  Francis Jan.  11,  '12 

Keck,  Sylvester  George Jan.  11,  '12 

Becker,  Alfred  Aloysius Dec.  27,   '11 

Marshall,  Winifrieda  Dorothy   (convert) June  7,   '93 

Winking,  Sylvia  Cecilia  Virginia Jan.  13,   '12 

Bennet,  Rose  Johanna   (convert) Nov.  30,'   91 

Giesing,   Mary  Elizabeth    Jan.  29,   '12 

Trapp,   Mathilda  Helen   Mary    Feb.    2,   '12 

Rueter,  Martin  Norbert .Jan.  28,   '12 

Detens,  Mathilda  Anna Feb.  12,  '12 

Upschulte,  Richard  Henry Feb.  12,  '12 

Hawkins,  Richard  Carlson    Oct.  21,  '11 

Steinmetz,  Sylvia  Elizabeth Feb.  17,  '12 

Heidbreder,  Alfred  Richard Feb.  24,   '12 

Leonard,  George  Howard    Mar.    4,  '12 

Feder,  Dorothy  Mary   Feb.  10,   '12 

Parker,   Myrtle  Mary Aug.  15,  '92 

Lechtenberg,  Louisa  Anna Mar.  30,  '12 

Mock,  John Mar.  22,   '12 

George,   Leo   Adam   Francis    April    1, '12 

Miller,  Rudolph  Joseph April  16,  '12 

Busse,  Louis  William  Joseph    Feb.    8,  '12 

Blickhan,  Margaret  Josephine    Nov.  10,  '00 

Blickhan,  Joseph  Earl    Aug.   9,   '03 

Rueter,  Raymond  Francis May    4,  '12 

Bowmann,  John  R.  George   May    5,  '12 

Greeting,  Virginia  Adelaide   May    6,  '12 

Stolze,  Francis  Gerard  (convert)  ....Dec.  23,  '91 
Wootten,  Ernst  Logan  (convert)  ....May  12,  '92 
Merritt,  Calvin  Columbus  Francis  (cvt)  Aug.  17,  '80 

Stewart,  Elizabeth  Lucille Dec.  22,  '  11 

Schulte,    Herman    Joseph    July  15,  '12 

Baker,  Walter  William    July  15,   '12 

Sueltmann,   Paul,  Anthony    July  17,   '12 

X.,  Loretta  Hazel 


Rose,    Richard   Charles    July  21,   '12 

Andrews,  Velma  Grace  Elizabeth July  26,   '12 

Mast,  Barbara  Elizabeth   July  28,  '12 

Requet,    lola   Martha    Nov.    1,   '10 

Requet,  Mildred  Esther  Elizabeth    .  .  .  .July  27,   '12 

Macomber,  John  Thomas  Roy Aug.    8,  '12 

Henke,  Clarence  Charles    Aug.  22,  '12 

Brinkmann,    Dorothy   Catherine    Aug.  29, '12 

Neal,  Charles  Alexander  (convert)    ....Feb.    8,  '77 
Fuchs,  Rose  Mary  Agnes Sept.  24,  '12 


Baptized 
Jan.  9,  '12 
Jan.  9,  '12 
Jan.  14,  '12 
Jan.  14,  '12 
Jan.  14,  '12 
Jan.  14,  '12 
Jan.  14,  '12 
Jan.  28,  '12 
Jan.  30,  '12 
Feb.  4,  '12 
Feb.  11,  '12 
Feb.  14,  '12 
Feb.  25,  '12 
Mar.  1,  '12 
Mar.  3',  '12 
Mar.  3,  '12 
Mar.  10,  '12 
Mar.  14,  '12 
Mar.  31,  '12 
Mar.  31,  '12 
April  5,'  12 
April'  7,  '12 
April  21,  '12 
April  28,  '12 
April 28,  '12 
April  28,  '12 
May  5,  '12 
May  12,  '12 
May  19,  '12 
May  31,  '12 
May  31,  '12 
May  31,  '12 
June  9,  '12 
July  16,  '12 
July  17,  '12 
July  21,  '12 
July  21,  '12 
July  28,  '12 
July  28,  '12 
July  30,  '12 
Aug.  4,  '12 
Aug.  4,  '12 
Aug.  22,  '12 
Aug.  25,  '12 
Aug.  30,  '12 
Sept.  18,  '12 
Sept.  29,  '12 


Pupils  of  St.  Boniface  School 


Seventh  Grade 


Eighth  Grade. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


111 


Burials. 


Died. 


1 

Rieth,   George  

Jan. 

19 

2 

Schoettler,   Elizabeth   

Feb. 

11 

3 

Jansen,  Albert  

Feb. 

20 

4 

Tenk,  Henry  

Feb. 

20 

5 

Ording,  Henry,  Sr  

Feb. 

25 

6 

Bickhaus,   Elisabeth   

April 

4 

7 

Meyer,  Caroline  

April 

7 

8 

Neumann,    Edward   

April 

11 

9 

Weber,  Leonard  

April 

16 

10 

Thier,   Joseph  

April 

23 

11 

Borstadt,  Christian  

April 

27 

12 

Hellhake,    John    

June 

2 

13 

Wansing,   Henry   

June 

16 

14 

Jansen,  Frances  

June 

19 

15 

Nieters,   Elisabeth   

June 

25 

16 

Jansen,  Elizabeth  

Aug. 

6 

17 

HesiSiling,  William  

Aug. 

13 

18 

Stuckenborg,  Henry  

Aug. 

18 

19 

Weltin,   Mary   Elisabeth   .    .  . 

Aug. 

20 

20 

Rexing,  Louise  

Aug. 

25 

21 

Soebbing,  Catherine  

Oct. 

3 

Buried. 

Age. 

Yrs. 

Jan. 

22 

67 

Feb. 

15 

78 

Feb. 

23 

88 

Feb. 

24 

83 

Feb. 

28 

75 

April 

8 

38 

April 

9 

84 

April 

15 

48 

April 

19 

74 

April 

26 

48 

May 

1 

44 

June 

5 

69 

June 

19 

50 

June 

21 

8 

June 

28 

80 

Aug. 

9 

28 

Aug. 

16 

59 

Aug. 

21 

68 

Aug. 

24 

66 

Aug. 

28 

44 

Oct. 

7 

46 

Marriages. 


l 

20 
23 


Jan. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
April  18 
April  23 
May 
May 
June 
June 
June  26 
June  26 
July  17 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Sept.  14 
Oct.  2 
Oct.  3 
Oct.  8 
Oct.  16 


7 

12 
4 
5 


28 


Johnson,  William  P.,  and  Schomaker,  Helen  M. 
Coen,  Timothy  Jos.,  and  De  Rocher,  Gertrude 
Paul,  Charles,  and  Parker,  Myrtle 
Lemmon,  William,  and  Vahle,  Anna  M. 
Humphrey,  Archibald,  and  Heilhake,  Clara 
Terwelp,   Francis,   and   Motzenbecker,   Florence. 
Neumann,  Joseph,  and  Sergent,  Alta 
Liebig,  Arthur  W.,  Hoeckelmann,  Cornelia 
Rupp,  Herbert  G,  and  Bessling,  Elizabeth 
Verheyen,  George  S.,  and  Stegemann,  Clara 
Brown,  Francis,  and  Lechtenberg,  Mina 
Long,  George  E.,  and  Hasse,  Martha 
Mohn,  Polk,  and  Zumsteg,  Clara 
Sessing,  John  H.,  and  Heeger,  Julia  Selma 
Hellhake,  Joseph,  and  Kernahan,  Helen  L. 
Weibring,  Joseph,  and  Peck,  Mary  D. 
Kaltenbach,  Charles,  and  Voges,  Anna 
Wewerink,  Bernard,  and  Smith,  Frances 
Kerkering,  John  W.,  and  Buschmann,  Ada  C. 


112 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


First  Communion  Glasses. 


Admitted  Solemnly  June  2nd. 


Buschmann,  Maurice 
Disseler,  Albert 
Entrup,  Carl 
Feld,  George 
Giesing,  Robert 
Hellhake,  John 
Janisen,  Frank 
Klarner,  Leonard 
Kurz,  Leo 
Laake,  Arthur 
Moore,  John 
Ohnemus,  Paul 
Schullian,  Lawrence 
Schell,  Eugene 
Wachtel,  John 
Wewerink,  Ralph 


Blickhan,  Eari 
Freiburg,  Herbert 
Geiise,  Bernard 
Hilbing,  Anthony 
Hilgenbrink,  Arthur 
Helfrich,  Virgil 
Leonard,  Leo 
Meyer,  Edward 
Rakers,  Bernard 
Rohde,  William 
Rossmiller,  Robert 
Wilde,  Cornelius 


Brinkmann,  Florence 
Heidemann,  Augusta 
Hilgenbrink,  Edita 
Johannes,  Frances 
Jansen,  Agnes 
Kaessen,  Helen 
Koch,  Helen 
Kohl,  Genevieve 
Krueper,  Caroline 
Rummenie,  Ethel 
Schmitt,  Bernardine 
Schwendemann,  Emma 
Terliesner,  Edith 
Thiemann,  Estella 
Tholen,  Olivia 


Admitted  Privately  June  13th. 


Blickhan,  Margaret 
Brinkmann,  Helen 
Broeker,  Edith 
Ehrhardt,  Margaret 
Farris,  Margaret 
Heintz,  Marcella 
Jansen,  Cecilia 
Jansen,  Regina 
Freiburg,  Marion 
Maas,  Genevieve 
Maas,  Wilhelmina 
Mueller,  Louise 
Sweeney,  Dorothy 
Wellmann,  Marie 


Confirmation  Class. 

Admitted  June  2nd. 


Bernhardt,  Francis 
Buschmann,  Maurice 
Disseler,  Albert 
Dicker,  Otto 
Entrup,  Henry 
Ernst,  Elmo 
Feld,  George 
Gehring,  Edward 
Gehring,  Ferdinand 
Giesing,  Robert 
Hartmann,  Jos. 
Hellhake,  John 
Hilgenbrink,  Norbert 
Holtkamp,  Herman 
Humphrey,  Archibald 
Jacobs,  Austin 
Jansen,  Frank 
Jansen,  Waiter 
Jung,  Julius 


Benning,  Helen 
Boedige,  Helen 
Boesing,  Edith 
Brandt,  Elisabeth 
Brinkmann,  Florence 
Bueter,  Cecilia 
Buschmann,  Elizabeth 
Dehner,  Ruth 
Entrup,  Elizabeth 
Epping,  Josephine 
Feld,  Irene 
Freiburg,  Gertrude 
Freiburg,  Odelia 
Granacher,  Martha 
Heidemann,  Augusta 
Heintz,  Isabelle 
Hellhake,  Caroline 
Hilgenbrink,  Edith 
Jansen,  Agnes 


First  Communion  Classes  of  1912 


Admitted  Solemnly  June  2nd. 


Admitted  Privately  .Tune    13th. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


113 


£altenbach,  Carl 
Cientzle,  Emmet 
Uarner,  Leonard 
Clein,  Paul 
iurz,  Leo 
..aake,  Arthur 
kleckee,  Frank 
dennel,  Leo 
tfenski,  Albert 
rterritt,  C.  Frank 
ktoore,  John 
kluehlenfeld,  Henry 
Mueller,  Henry 
)hnemu®,  Paul 
lexing,  Frank 
>chell,  Eugene 
Jchnitker,  Paul 
>chullian,  Albert 
Jchullian  Lawrence  J 
Jchwarte,  Albert 
5iepker,  Frank 
>ohm,  Herbert 
>teinkamp,  Francis 
Itolze,  Frank 
>rf'OTd,  Arthur 
^eriiesner,  John 
^erwische,  Aus-tin 
rimpe,  Edward 
^riebel,  Herbert 
Vachtel,  John 
Veber,  Frank 
iVeltin,  Lawrence 
Vilde,  Marion 
Vewerink,  Ralph 
Williams,  Carl 
Vootten,  Logan 


Janisen,  Magdalen 
Jansen,  Marie 
Johannes,  Clara 
Johannes,  Frances 
Joseph,  Edith 
Kaessen,  Helen 
Koch,  Ellen 
Koetters,  Veronica 
Kohl,  Genevieve 
Kohl,  Hortense 
Krueper,  Caroline 
Lamy,  Rose 
Lenane,  Myrtle 
Loenker,  Clara 
Mast,  Catherine 
Mast,  Mary 
Menke,  Marie 
Meyer,  Coletta 
Meyer,  Martha 
Meyer,  Rose 
Mueller,  Frances 
Mueller,  Mary 
Muisholt,  Margaret 
Murphy,  Florence 
Paul,  Myrtle 
Rehm,  Dorothy 
Rexing,  Louise 
Rummenie,  Ethel 
Rupp,  Florence 
Schmitt,  Bernardine 
Schmitt,  Mildred 
Schwendemann,  Emma 
Seifert,  Julia 
Stegemann,  Mary 
Sleinkamp,  Mary 
Terliesner,  Bertha 
Terliesner,  Edith 
Thiemann,  Estella 
Thiemann,  Florence 
Tholen,  Olivia 
Timpe,  Mary 
Timmerwilke,  Antoinette 
Trapp,  Antoinette 
Vandenboom,  Edna 
Weisenhorn,  Regina 
Winking,  Gertrude 
Zang,  Florence 


114 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Pupils  of  St.  Boniface  School. 


Barton,  Henry 
Barton,  John 
Becker,  William 
Broeker,  Carl 
Oorbin,  Charles 
Dailing,  Lawrence 
Dopheide,  Henry 
Freiburg,  Virgil 
Geise,,  Bernard 
Heine,  Carl 
Helfrich,  Virgil 
Heming,  August 
Henke,  Ralph 
Hilbing,  Anthony 
Hummert,  Louis 
Klarner,  Frederick 
Leonard,  Leo 
Mast,  Ralph 
Mueller,  Frank 
Rakers,  Bernard 
Ridder,  William 
Rossmilier,  Robert 
Soebbing,  Arthur 


Bauer,  Richard 
Blickhan,  Arthur 
Blickhan,  Earl 
Farndon,  William 
Freiburg,  Herbert 
Gruber,  George 
Heckel,  Harold 
Hilgenbrink,  Omer 
Mennel,  Clarence 
Meyer,  Edward 
Rohde,  William 
Wachtel,  Carl 


Boyd,  L.  Forrest 
Dailing,  Frank 
Entrup,  Alfred 
Foster,  Eugene 
Hilbing,  Frank 
Kollmeyer,  George 


Enrolled  September  1912. 

GRADE  I. 
Sister  M.  Alexis. 


Baum,  Beatrice 
Bessling,  Florence 
Brinkmann,  Helen 
Broeker,  Edith 
Deters,  Helen 
Deters,  Rosa 
Ehrhardt,  Margaret 
Ernst,  Edith 
Heckle,   Ruth 
Heming,  Helen 
Klein,  Mathilda 
Langdon,  Margaret 
Maas,  Wilhelmina 
Mueller,  Lucille 
Rupp,  Magdalen 
Steinkamp,  Catherine 
Sweeney,  Dorothy 
Tholen,  Eleanore 
Wavering,  Grace 
Wellman,  Marie 


GRADE  Ii. 
Sister  M.  Rogeria, 


Becker,  Agatha 
Bockenfeld,  Loretta 
Farris,  Margaret 
Freiburg,  Marion 
Geise,  Willma 
Heintz,  Marcelia 
Jansen,  Cecilia 
Jansen,  Regina 
Koch,  Clara 
Rexing,  Clara 
Ridder,  Rose  Mary 
Sweeney,  Edith 
Wansing,  Estelle 


GRADE  III. 
Sister  M.  Rogeria, 


Dailing,  Celeste 
Freiburg,  Edna 
Giesing,  Florence 
Kalmer,  Florence 
Moore,  Anna  Marie 
Scholz,  Pauline 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


115 


Mast,  William 
Moenning,  Arthur 
Mueller,  Theo. 
Ridder,  Cornelius 
Rupp,  Louis 
Schullian,  Arthur 
Stalf,  Andrew 
Schmitt,  Florian 
Von  der  Heide,  Theo. 
Weyand,  Howard 
Woltmann,  Gerald 


Achilles,  Ralph 
Benning,  Edward 
Blickhan,  Norbert 
Bockenfeld,  Louis 
Dean,  Frank 
Deters,  Frederick 
Ehrhardt,  Raymond 
Farndon,  John 
Feld,  Aldo 
Gruber,  William 
Heintz,  Nicholas 
Huck,  Ralph 
Musholt,  Walter 
Neal,  Maurice 
Ohnemus,  Norbert 
Ridder,  Carl 
Rossmiller,  Hermann 
Schuering,  George 
Sweeney,  Edward 
Timmerwilke  Robert 
Wavering,  Leo 
Wavering,  Bertram 
Winking,  George 


Bernhardt,  Alfred 
Bessling,  Arthur 
Broeker,  Frank 
Disseler,  John 
Hartmann,  Alois 
Heine,  Marcellus 
Holtkamp,  Sylvester 
Huck,  Marcellua 
Johannes,  Charles 
Kurz,  Paul 
Mclntyre,  Patrick 
Moore,  Frederick 
Rummenie,  Paul 
Schmeing,  Bernard 
Scholz,  Richard 
Schuering,  Henry 
Timmerwilke,  Henry 
Timpe,  Lawrence 


Wavering,  Alice 
Wiskirchen,  Emma 


GRADE  IV. 
Sister  M .  Martina. 


Brinkmann,  Leona 
Entrup,  Margaret 
Hilbing,  Margaret 
Jansen,  Clara 
Maas,  Genevieve 
Mast,  Ottilia 
Mueller,  Louise 
Rexing,  Mary 
Sueltmann,  Margaret 
Terwische,  Elizabeth 
Wachtel,  Henrietta 
Winking,  Helen 
Wiskirchen,  Marion 


GRADE  V. 
Sister  M.  Leo. 


Benning,  Antoinette 
Bernbrock,  Marie 
Boeing,  Margaret 
Hilgenbrink,  Marg. 
Johannes,  Bertha 
Klein,  Genevieve 
Moenning,  Helen 
Muehlenfeid,  Adelaide 
Soebbing,  Josepha 
Stratman,  Vera 
Tholen,  Estelle 
Winking,  Cornelia 
Wilde,  Genevieve 


116 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


GRADE  VI. 
Sister  M.  Avina. 


Dehner,  George 
Gehring,  Paul 
Hartmann,  Frank 
Hilgenbrink,  Raymond 
Jacobs,  Clarence 
McCann,  William 
Meyer,  Anthony 
Rooney,  Joseph 
Schmitt,  Emil 
Sueitmann,  Fred. 
Thiemann,  Ralph 
Trapp,  Everett 
Verheyen,  Leo 
Wiskirchen,  Arnold 
Wilde,  Charles 


Bessling,  Prances 
Blickhan,  Margaret 
Bueter,  Estelle 
Corbin,  Florence 
Freiburg,  Lucille 
Gehring,  Leona 
Kaessen,  Mathilda 
Moller,  Gertrude 
Ridder,  Sylvia 
Schwarte,  Helen 
Schnitker,  Dolores 
Schroeder,  Mary 
Seifert,  Mary 
Steinkamp,  Anna 
Wachtel,  Leona 
Wansing,  Alma 
Wiskirchen,  Elizabeth 


GRADE  VII. 
Prof.  John  Kieffer  —  Sister  M.  Athanasia. 


Buschman,  Maurice 
Entrup,  Carl 
Feld,  George 
Giesing,  Robert 
Hellhake,  Jerome 
Jansen,  Frank 
Klarner,  Leonard 
Kurz,  Leo 
Laake,  Arthur 
Moore,  John 
Ohnemus,  Paul 
Schell,  Eugene 
Wachtel,  John 
Wewerink,  Ralph 


Brinkmann,  Florence 
Heidemann,  Augusta 
Hilgenbrink,  Edith 
Jansen,  Agnes 
Johannes,  Frances 
Kaesisen,  Helen 
Koch,   Helen 
Krueper,  Caroline 
Maas,  Margaret 
Schmitt,  Bernardine 
Schwendemann,  E. 
Terliesner,  Bertha 
Thiemann,  Esitelle 
Tholen,  Olivia 
Timmerwilke,  Mildred 


Prof.  John 


Hartmann,  Joseph 
Hiigenbrink,  Norbert 
Holtkamp,  Herman 
Klein,  Paul 
Muehlenfeld,  Henry 
Schnitker,  Paul 
Sohm,  Herbert 
Terford,  Arthur 
Triebel,  Herbert 
Weber,  Frank 


GRADE  VIII. 


r  —  Sister  M.  Athanasia. 

Benning,  Helen 
Boesing,  Edith 
Dehner,  Ruth 
Freiburg,  Odelia 
Jansen,  Marie 
Jansen,  Magdalen 
Kohl,  Hortense 
Koetters,  Verna 
Mast,  Catherine 
Mueholt,  Margaret 
Seifert,  Julia 
Terliesner,  Edith 
Thiemann,  Florence 
Timpe,  Mary 
Weisenhorn,  Regina 
Zang,  Florence 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION  117 


Graduates  of  1912. 


Bernhardt,  Frank  Boedige,  Helen 

Bohne,  Cyril  Buechmann,  Elizabeth 

Ernst,  Elmo  Entrup,  Elizabeth 

Gehring,  Edward  Freiburg,  Gertrude 

Jansen,  Walter  Granacher,  Martha 

Schwarte,  Albert  Johannes,  Clara 

Terwische,  Austin  Mast,  Marie 

Menke,  Marie 
Rehm,  Dorothy 
Rupp,  Florence 
Stegemann,  Leona 
i  Winking,  Gertrude 


Jtt  fHranrtam. 


Rest  in  peace,  ye  blessed  ones  who  slumber, 
'Neath  the  green  sod  of  this  hallo' ed  place. 

Though  God  called  you  from  us,  still  we  number 
You  as  members  of  St.  Boniface. 

Rest,  for  now  the  time  of  toil  is  over, 

Rest,  for  you  have  fought  a  valiant  fight, 

Soon  a  hundredfold  you  shall  recover 
All  you've  lost  in  striving  for  the  right. 

See  the  shadow  of  the  Cross  enfolds  you, 
See  the  Conqueror  of  Death  hangs  there, 

In  His  merciful  embrace  He  holds  you, 
Mindful  of  His  loved  ones  everywhere. 

Angels  guard  the  spot  where  lie  your  ashes, 

Waiting  for  the  signal  to  go  forth, 
And  to  summon  you  with  trumpet  crashes 

From  the  East  and  West,  the  South  and  North. 

Meanwhile  we  who  still  are  left  to  labor, 
For  your  souls,  will  never  cease  to  pray, 

That  they  may  ascend  the  heavenly  Thabor 
E'en  before  the  Resurrection  Day. 

Slumber  then,  until  the  dawn  is  sighted, 

Slumber,  till  God  wakes  you  from  your  sleep, 

And  with  soul  and  body  re-united, 

Calls  you  where  you  nevermore  shall  weep. 

Calls  you  where  there  is  no  longer  sadness, 
Where  eternal  peace  succeeds  the  strife, 

Where  we  hope  to  share  your  joy  and  gladness, 
And  partake  of  everlasting  Life. 

R.  I.  P, 


ST.   BONIFAUE  CONGREGATION 


119 


Present  Membership  by  Families 

OF  ST.  BONIFACE  CHURCH 

Including  Pew  Holders    Living   in  Other  Parishes. 


*Asterisk  before  name  indicates  Pew  Holders. 
Figure  after  name  indicates  the  number  of  individuals  in  the  family. 


*  Achilles,  Anton.  . 4 

*Albers,  Frank  W 2 

*Anck,    John 2 

*  Baker,  Mrs.  Charles 2 

*Bauer,    Richard 6 

Baumgarten,    Edward 3 

*Baum,    John 4 

*Becker,  William 6 

*Beler,  Mrs.  Anna 1 

*Benning,    John 8 

Bernard,  Mrs.  Caroline 2 

*Bernbrock,  John  B 4 

*Berndanner,    John 5 

Berndanner,  William 4 

Berndanner,    Frederick 5 

*Bernhardt,  Mrs.  Christina 7 

*Bernzen,    Henry 3 

*Berter,  William    6 

*Besslin.g,    Bernard 8 

*Bessling,  John 4 

*Bickhaus,   A.   Clement 3 

Bickhaus,    Henry 6 

*Bickhaus,   Joseph 2 

*Binkert,   William 2 

*Blickhan,  Dr.  Alois  J 5 

Blickhan,  Edward 3 

Blickhan,  Louis  E 4 

Bockenf eld,  Frederick 6 

*Boeckenhoff,   Henry 

Boeckenhoff,    Romeo 1 

*Boedige,  Henry 8 

Boeing,  Mrs.  Mary 5 

*Boerder,  Mrs.  Agnes 4 

*Boesing,   Bernard 6 

Borian,  Mrs.  Adelaide 2 

Bowman,  Mrs.  Wi'lliam  H.  J. .  .  4 
*Boyd,  Edward  L 3 

*  Brandt,  Mrs.  Josephine 5 

*Brinkmann,    Joseph 8 

*Brinkmann,  Miss  Anna 1 

*Brockschmidt,    Miss  Agnes....  2 
*Brockschmidt,  Miss  Ositha....! 

Broeker,  Clement 4 

*Broeker,  Hermann    .  ..2 


*  Broeker,  Mrs.  Theresa 1 

Brokamp,  Frank  J 1 

*Brokamp,  Henry 7 

*Brown,  J.  William   2 

*Brueggenshmidt,   Gerard 3 

*Buehner,  Dr.  John  B. ........  2 

*Buerkin,  Herman   2 

*Bueter,  Miss  Caroline 2 

*Bueter,    Henry 8 

Bueter,   Joseph 3 

Bunte,  Mrs.  Catherine  E 1 

*Buschmann,  Mrs.  Mary 4 

Buschmann,    Herbert 1 

Busse,    Henry 4 

*Butz,  Frederick 2 

*Byerly,  Mrs.  William 1 

*Campbell,   Daniel .2 

*Coens,    John 5 

*Comeford,  William 3 

Corbin,  Mrs.  Charles 5 

*Cramer,  Mrs.  Mary 1 

Dailing,    John 6 

*Damhorst,    Frank 5 

*Dattendoerfer,  Frank 2 

*Dean,  Frank 4 

*Dehner,  Mrs.  Anna 1 

*Dehner,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 4 

*Dehner,    Leonard 4 

*Delabar,  Constantine 1 

*  Deters,    Bernard 8 

*Deters,    George 5 

*  Deters,  Henry 3 

*Dieker,  Henry 4 

Dicker,  John 4 

*Dieker,   William 5 

*Dirkers,   Mrs.   Mary 2 

*Doerr,    Andrew 2 

*Doerr,  Miss  Josephine 2 

*Doerr,  Miss  Florence 1 

*Dopheide,  Bernard 6 

*Droppel,   Clement 2 

*Druffel,    Frank 

*Duerholt,   Mrs.   Mary 2 

*Duker,  Miss  Anna,  1022  Maine.  2 


120 


DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Duker,  Mrs.  Anna,  321  S.  10th.  4 

*Duker,    Christian 8 

*Duker,  Mrs.  Clara,  834  Vine  St.  3 
*Duker,  Mrs.  Clara,  601  Spring.  4 
*Duker,    John   H.,    1109    Hamp- 
shire St 7 

Duker,  John  L.,  322  N.  12th  St.  3 

*Duker,    Otto 3 

*Ebbers,  Mrs.  Christina 5 

*Ehrhardt,    Albert 2 

*Ehrhardt,  Herman   4 

*Ehrhardt,  William 6 

*Entrup,    Henry 9 

*Erner,  John  B 3 

*Ernst,   Joseph 4 

*Faerber,  Mrs.  Frances 5 

*Farndon,  Mrs.  John  T 3 

*Feld,  John  H 8 

Fendrich,  Miss  Amanda 2 

*Figgen,    William 

*  Fischer,  George,  Sr 4 

Fischer,  John,  618  Vine  St.  ...  2 
Fischer,  Mrs.  John,  1732  State.  5 

*Fischer,  Joseph  J 5 

*Flaiz,    Fred 2 

*Flaiz,  Eugene 

*Fiottkoetter,    Bernard 3 

*l*1lottkoetter,    Mrs.    Catherine..! 

*Fortkamp,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 3 

*Fortkamp,   Miss  A^ary 1 

Foster,  Mrs.  Edith   3 

*Frankenhoff,  Mrs.  Elizabeth ...  4 
*Franke,  Joseph 2 

Frederick,  Mrs.  Sophia 1 

*Freese,  Frank 8 

*  Freiburg,    Alphonse 7 

*  Freiburg,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 

*Freiburg,    Joseph 10 

*  Freiburg,  Miss  Mary 5 

*Friederich,  Henry  W 3 

*Fuchs,    Edward   J 

*Fuelbier,    John 3 

Futterer,  Jacob 2 

*Gantert,   Mrs.    Elizabeth 1 

*Gehring,    Henry 7 

*Gehring,   Herbert 

*Gehring,  John  Jos 9 

Gehring,  Robert 4 

*Gehring,   William 3 

*Geise,  Henry  B 5 

Gerke,    J.    Henry 3 

*Giefing,  Ferdinand 2 

*Giesing,   Mrs.   Mary 8 

*Giesing,   John 4 

*Giesing,    Mrs.    Josephine 3 

*G'lahn,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 3 

*Glass,   John  B 9 

*Glindemann,  Mrs.  Albert 2 

*Gramke,    Mrs.    Christina 3 

*Granacher,    Edward 

*Granacher,  George 1 


*Granacher,   Joseph 1 

*Gredell,    John 3 

Groeting,    Bernard 2 

*Gruber,  William 7 

*Gussenmeyer,   Mrs.   Dorothy...  1 

*Guth,    Mrs,    Magdalen 1 

*Hartmann,   Bernard 7 

Hartmann,  Henry 2 

*Hartmann,  Mrs.  Mary 

*Hasse,   Mrs.   William 5 

*Haug,  Frank 3 

*Haverland,  Mrs.  Mary 3 

*Heckenkamp,    Frederick 1 

*Heckel,  Frank 4 

Heckle,  Ben  Jr 3 

*Heeger,  Joseph 2 

*Heidbreder,   Mrs.    Charles   A. .  .  4 

*Heidemann,    Theodore 4 

*Heidemann,    George 3 

*  Heine,   Mrs.   Christina 6 

*Heine,    George 

*Heintz,    Albert 

*Heinitz,  George 

*Heintz,  Herman 

*Heintz,  Nicholas 4 

"Hellhake,  August 

Hellhake,   Bernard 1 

*Hellhake,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 4 

*Hellmer,   Edward 3 

*Hellmer,  Frank 3 

*Hellmer,  J.  Henry 8 

*Hemker,  Henry 

*Henke,    George 5 

*Henke,  Miss  Gertrude 

*Henke,  John 7 

Homing,  Bernard   8 

Herring,  Frederick 1 

Herbst,  Mrs.  Rose 1 

*Herbst,  William 1 

*Heuer,  B.  Henry 2 

*Heuer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 2 

*Heuer,  Miss  Helen   2 

Hilbing,  Mrs.  Catherine 2 

*Hilbing,  Frank 7 

*Hilgenbrink,    John 6 

*Hilgenbrink,  Joseph 9 

*Hoeckelmann,  Charles 3 

*Hoeckelmann,  Frank   3 

*Hoedinghaus,  Miss  Anna 2 

*Hoehn,  Mrs.  Josephine 

*Hoelker,   Miss  Christina 1 

"Hoffmann,  Miss  Ida 

*Hofschneider,  Mrs.  Mary 4 

*Hollender,  Frank 1 

Hollender,  Miss  Mary 1 

*Holtkamp,   Miss  Mary 3 

*Huber,  Mrs.   Rufina 1 

*Huck,  Oscar  P 8 

*Hummert,  Joseph 4 

Hund,  Mrs.  Frank 1 

*Hutmacher,    August 6 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


121 


*  Jacobs,  August 7 

* Jacoby,   Joseph 5 

*  Jansen,    Anton 7 

*Jansen,  Mrs.   Catherine 5 

*  Jansen,  Henry  J 8 

Jansen,  Herman 4 

*  Jansen,  John  G 1 

Jasper,    Joseph 4 

* Jelsing,  William 2 

* Jochem,  Peter 6 

Johannes,    Charles 8 

*  Johannes,    Frank 4 

Johannes,  George .  1 

*  Johnson,  Mrs.  William 1 

*  Joseph,   Robert 6 

*  Jost,   George 4 

*Jost,  Mrs.  Gertrude 

*Kaessen,  Bernard 

*Kaessen,  B.  Frank 5 

*Kalmer,  Frank 3 

*Kaltenbach,  Charles 3 

*Kaltenbach,    Theresa 

*Kamp,  Mrs.  William 1 

Kathe,  Mrs.  Caroline 1 

Keck,  John    1 

"Keck,    Otto 6 

*Kettler,    William 2 

*Kiefer,  Miss  Catherine 3 

*Kiefer,  Frank 1 

*Kiefer,    Joseph 2 

"Kiefer,  Mrs.  Magdalen 2 

"Kieffer,  Prof.  John 3 

*Kientzle,  Gustav 5 

*Klarner,  Julius 6 

*Klein,  George 5 

*Klene,  Ferdinand 5 

Kloecking,  Miss  Caroline 1 

*Koch,  Alfred 

*Koch,  Mrs.  Anna 3 

Koch,  Frank 2 

*Koch,  Philip 2 

*Koenig,  Miss  Clara 

*Koenig,   Emma 

*Koenig,   Mrs.    Frances 5 

Koenig,  Joseph 2 

*Koetters,  Mrs.  Caroline 7 

*Kohl,    Adam 4 

*Koh1,    George 4 

*Kohl,    Nicholas 3 

*Kolker,  Mrs.  Catherine 3 

*Kolker,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 2 

*Kollmeyer,  George 

*Konefes,  John  H 7 

Krabbe,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 2 

Kramer,  Mrs.  M:argaret 1 

*Krewet,  William 2 

"Krueper,  Mrs.  Catherine 1 

"Krueper,    John 8 

*Krueper,  Miss  Mathilda 

*Kuhlmann,  Mrs.  Helen 1 

*Kunkel,  Miss  Elizabeth 1 


*Kurz,  Alfred 2 

*Kurz,  William 9 

*Laake,   Henry 5 

"Lake,   Mrs.   Louise 1 

Lamkameyer,  Mrs.  Fred 1 

*Lamy,  Mrs.  Helen 6 

*Lammering,  Clarence 2 

*Langdon,  Mrs.  Cnarlss .  .  3 

*Lang,  Mrs.  Catherine.  ........  2 

Lavignon,    Frank 8 

*La  Voie,  Louis 2 

*Lechtenberg,  Henry 

*Lechtenberg,  Leo 

*Lechtenberg,    William 

*Lefers,  Mrs.  Christina 2 

*Leipold,   Emil 3 

*Leitsch,  Miss  Elizabeth 1 

Lemmon,   Mrs.   Anna 1 

*Lenane,  Thomas 

Leonard,  Stephen 9 

LeVan,  Mrs.  Milton  C 1 

*Liesen,  Miss  Catherine 1 

*Lipps,   Joseph 2 

"Loenker,    John 7 

Lowe,   Mrs.    George.  .  . 1 

*Lubbe,  Mrs.  Catherine 5 

*Lubbe,    Joseph 3 

*Lubbe,   Mrs.   Katie 3 

*Luehrs,  John 3 

*Maas,    George 6 

Mac  Eachron,  Mrs.  Harold ....  3 

*Majerus,  John 6 

*Martin,  Mrs.  Edward 3 

*Martin,    Michael 2 

*Mast,    Amalia 

*Mast,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 3 

*Mast,  William 10 

MoCann,  Mrs.  Louise 3 

McDowell,   Mrs.  William 4 

*Meiners,  Henry 4 

*Menke,  Alois 7 

*Menke,   Miss  Catherine 

*Menke,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 4 

*Menke,  Frank 2 

*Menke,  Mrs.  Mary. 6 

*Menke,   Theodore 2 

Mennel,  Adam 5 

*Mennel,    Mrs.    Elizabeth 2 

*Menski,  George 

*Menski,  Miss  Rose 

*Menski,    Mrs.    Mary 8 

*Metzger,   Mrs.   Elizabeth 3 

*Meyer,    Anton 

*Meyer,  Mrs.  Agues 2 

*  Meyer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 4 

*  Meyer,  Miss  Elizabeth 3 

*Meyer,   Frank    4 

Meyer,    George    2 

*Meyer,  John  G.,  633  Ohio  St.  .  .5 
Meyer,  John  J.,  707  Kentucky.  5 


122 


*Meyer,  Mrs.  Mary 1 

*Meyer,  William 5 

*  Michael,  Miss  Anna 

Michael,  Henry 2 

*  Miller,  Mrs.  Barbara  E 2 

*Miller,    George 3 

Miller,    John 4 

*Miller,  Joseph 1 

*Miller,   Mrs.   Mary 3 

*Mock,  Henry 7 

*Moenning,    George 4 

Mohau,  Mrs.  Bertha 3 

Mohn,  Mrs.  Polk  J 3 

*Moller,  Edward  B 2 

*Moller,  Frederick 4 

*Moller,  Henry  B 4 

*Moller,  Mrs.  Louise 

*Moore,  John  W 5 

*Moss,  Mrs.  Caroline 2 

*  Mueller,  Mrs.  Margaret 1 

*  Mueller,    Herman,   ST.,     612    S. 

20th  St 9 

*Mueller,  Herman,  Jr.,  314% 

S  llth  St 2 

*Mueller,  Martin 12 

*Muehlenfeld,  Henry  2 

*Muehlenfeld,  John  B 7 

*Muldoon,  William 2 

*Musholt,  Henry 6 

*Mutz,  Miss  Elizabeth 2 

*Neal,  Charles 

*  Neumann,  Miss  Agnes 2 

Neumann,  Joseph 1 

*  Neumann,  Mrs.  Louise 5 

Niehaus,  Bernard 6 

Niehaus,  Henry 2 

*Niehaus,  Miss  Mary 3 

Oelrich,  Mrs.  Herman 1 

*Ohnemus,  Anton 4 

*Ohnemus,  George 2 

*Ohnemus,  John 1 

*Oenning,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 2 

*Ording,  Mrs.  Caroline 4 

*Ording,    John 5 

*Ottenstein,  Miss  Barbara 1 

*Otten,  Frederick 2 

*Otten,  Henry 4 

*Ott,  Philip 2 

*Paul,   Charles 2 

Paul,   Mrs.   Edward 2 

*Peck,   Adelbert 2 

Poepping,  Bernard 2 

Poepping,    Henry 2 

*  Poepping,  John 

Pulsforth,  Miss  Elizabeth 1 

*  Rakers,    Adolph 6 

*Recker,  Herman   4 

*Reed,  Mrs.  Marcellus 6 

*Rehm,    Charles 3 

*Reinert,  Michael 5 

Rensch,  Mrs.  Henry  W 1 


Requet,   Charles 3 

Rexing,    Frank 6 

Rickenberg,  J.  Henry 6 

*Ricker,   Bernard 5 

*Ricker,  George 

*Ricker,   Joseph 

*Ridder,    Charles 7 

*Ridder,  Henry  A.,  300%  S.  7th. 6 
*Ridder,  Henry  E.,   1110  Jersey 

*Rog,genland,    Mrs.    Mina 1 

*Rohde,    Bernard 4 

Rose,  Joseph 6 

*  Ross,    John 3 

*RossmiHer,  William 6 

*Rueter,  William  916  Spring  St. 3 
*Rueter,    Mrs.    William,    316    S. 

10th  St 2 

*Rummenie,  Frank 7 

*Rummenie,    John 7 

^Rupp,  Henry 

*Rupp,   Louie 7 

Sartori,    Anton 1 

*Schell,  Peter 3 

*Schell,  Reinold 9 

*Schill,  Joseph 3 

*Schlag,  Miss  Clara 1 

*Schlangen,   Bernard 7 

*Schlangen,    John 

*Schmeing,  George 5 

*Schmitt,    George   H.,    812    Ken- 
tucky St 4 

*Schmitt,  George  J.,  919%   Jer- 
sey St 2 

*Schmits,  John 2 

Schneider,  Charles 6 

*Schnelten,   Henry    4 

*Schnetter,  Joseph 1 

*Schnitker,  George 3 

*Schnitker,  John 

*Schoettler,  Miss  Cath 2 

*Scholz,    Adam 4 

Scholz,    Jacob 2 

*Schroeder,  Henry 

*Schroeder,  Herman 

*Sohuering,  Henry 4 

*Schuering,  Herman 5 

*Schullian,    Baltas 2 

Schullian,    Frank    H 2 

*Schullian,  John 7 

*Schullian,  Dr.  O.  F 2 

*Schulte,    Anton 3 

*Schumacher,    Miss   Mary 1 

*Schupp,  Miss  Amalia 3 

Schwab,    Mrs.    Josephine 2 

*Schwarte,  John 3 

*Schwarte,   Joseph 5 

*Schwendemann,  George 5 

Scott,  Mrs.  Mack  J 3 

*Seifert,   Mrs.   Catherine 7 

*Sheridan,    Thomas 2 

*Siepker,    Mrs.    Josephine 6 


0 
X 


5)0 ' 


00! 


-/ 

0\       O/ 


o/      o\ 

f         A 


80' 


MAINE  ST. 


Property  of  St.  Boniface,  on  Seventh  and   Maine 
Streets,   as  Acquired  at  Various  Intervals. 


ST.   BONIFACE  CONGREGATION 


123 


*Smith,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 3 

*  Scabbing,  Mrs.  Catherine 1 

"Soebbing,  Frank 4 

*Soebbing,  Henry  A.,  1014  Oak. 4 

Soebbing,  Henry  T.,  429  S.  5th. 7 

*Sohm,  Dr.  Albert 2 

*Sohm,  Edward,  Sr 3 

Sohm  Ferdinand 1 

*Sohm,  John 3 

*Sohm,   William 3 

Sohn,  Mrs.  Lavina 2 

*Sohn,  Miss  Magdalen 2 

*Sonnet,    Frank 2 

Sta'lf ,    Adam 3 

*Stankowski,   Joseph 

*Starkel,    John 4 

*Starmann,    George 2 

*Stegemann,    Theodore,   Sr.,  638 

Oak  St 8 

*Stegemann,  Theodore,  Jr.,   834 

Vine  St 3 

*Steinkamp,  Henry  Sr 8 

*Steinkamp,  Henry  Jr 

Stoeckle,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 1 

*Stolze,  Joseph 4 

*Stratman,  Mrs.  George 2 

Stravinski,  Miss  Frances 2 

*Stroot,    August 9 

*Strothoff,  Urban 5 

*Sueltmann,  Mrs.   Gustav 4 

Surlage,  Mrs.  Veronica 2 

*Surmeyer,   Mrs.  Crescentia .  .  .  .  2 

*  Sweeney,  Edward 6 

*Sweetring,  Mrs.  Philomena.  .  .  .2 

*Tenk,  Frank 5 

*Tenk,   Rudolph 

*Tenk,  Mrs.  Theresa 2 

*Terford,  Charles 7 

*Terford,  John 5 

*Terford,   Mias  Josephine 1 

"Terliesner,    Louis 5 

*  Terwische,  Mrs.  Caroline 3 

Terwische,    Mrs.    Elizabeth ....  3 

"Terwische,   Geonge 5 

Terwische,    Louis 2 

*Thiemann,  Henry 5 

*Tholen,    Henry 5 

*Thuer,  Joseph 4 

*Timmerwilke,    George,    701    N. 

6th  St 4 

*Timmerwilge,      George,      1014 

Broadway 4 

*Timpe,  Mrs.  Mary 6 

Trapp,  Anton,  1248  Broadway.  2 
*Trapp,  Anton  F.,  918%  Maine.  4 
*Trapp,  Caroline 2 

Trapp,  John  A 2 

*Trapp,  Joseph 3 

*Triebel,   Charles 4 

*Ubbing,    John 1 

*Ueh'lein,  Mrs.  Catherine 2 


*Ullmann,  Mrs.  Anna 3 

*Ulrich,   Leo 

"Ulrich,    Stephen 2 

"Upschulte,    Bernard 

*  Urban,  Mrs.  Catherine 

Vandenboom,  August 2 

*  Vandenboom,  Mrs.  Catherine. .  .  2 
*Vandenboom,    Joseph,'"  Sr.,  801 

Oak  St 3 

Vandenboom,    Joseph,   Jr.,    801 

Spring  St 2 

*Vennes,  William 1 

*Venvertloh,  Miss  Christina ....  1 

*Verheyen,  Frank 7 

Voelker,  Mrs.  Mary 1 

*Von  Bossum,  Frank 4 

* Vonderheide,    Joseph 4 

*Volm,  Andrew 2 

*Volm,  Philip 4 

*Wachtel,    Frank 6 

*Waibel,    Benedict 2 

*Walbaum,    August 7 

*Walterscheid,  Miss  Catherine .  .  1 

*  Wand,  Joseph 2 

* Wansing,  Mrs.  Christina 5 

*  Wavering,   Henry 5 

*  Wavering,  William 4 

*  Weber,  August 3 

*  Weber,  Mrs.  Gertrude 3 

*Weisenhorn,  Lawrence 3 

*Weisenhorn,  William 6 

* Wellman,  Anton 7 

*Wellman,  Frank  B 2 

Wellman,  Jerome 2 

*Wellman,  Miss  Minnie 

* Weltin,  August 1 

*Weltin,   Edward S 

*Weltin,  Johanna 2 

*Weltin,  John  E.,  200  S.  12th..  3 

*  Weltin,  John  S.,    1027    Hamp- 

shire  St 3 

*  Weltin,    Mary 3 

*\v  eltin,  Mrs.  Wilhemina 2 

*Westmann,    Henry 2 

*Wenslng,  Mrs.  Anna 1 

Westhaus,   Frederick 2 

* Wewerink,   Joseph 8 

*  Wewer,   Anna 1 

*Weyand,  Ignatius 2 

*  Wilde,    Catherine 

*  Wilde,  Helen 

*Wilde,    Henry 12 

*Wilde,   Miss  Josepha    

*  Williams,   George 4 

*Will  Miss  Theresa 

Winkelmann,   Mrs.   Elizabeth .  .  2 

*  Winking,    George 5 

*  Winking,   G.   Henry 5 

*Wiskirchen,  Henry 10 

* Wissmann,  Reynold 

*Wolf,  Frederick  Sr 


124 


DIAMOND   JUBILEE 


*Zanger,  Miss  Ursula 

*  Wolf,  Frederick,  Jr 3 

*  Woltmann,  Frank 3 

* Wol'tmann,  John  B 3 

*  Worth,  Mrs.  John 4 

*Zang,  Charles 4 


*Zengel,    Joseph 5 

*Zimmermann,  Alois   3 

*Zimmermann,  Mrs.  Elizabeth.. 3 

*Zwick,    Christian 3 

*Zwick,  Louis 


I 

f 


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t 
f 


• 

!I 


Ground  Plan  of  St.  Boniface  Church. 


126  DIAMOND  JUBILEE 


Clara  Specht,  Bertha  Glass,  Agnes  Wolf,  Clara  Lubbe,  Florence 
Wiskirchen,  Bessie  Dean,  Isabelle  Terwische,  Clara  Coens,  Ger- 
trude Coens,  Clara  Lechtenberg,  Catherine  Otten,  Margaret 
Freiburg,  Cornelia  Reinert,  Helen  Reed,  Agnes  Reed,  Adelaide 
Lechtenberg,  Bertha  Gehring,  Clara  Bauhaus,  Magdalene 
Egbers,  Genevieve  Granacher,  Elizabeth  Kuhlman,  Kate 
Reinert,  Alice  Giesing,  Mary  StrothofT,  Frances  Menke,  Clara 
Jacoby,  Clara  Dirkers. 

Illumination  Committee — Will  H.  Sohm. 

Decoration  Committee — Edward  J.  Helmer,  Will  H.  Sohm, 
Harry  Fortkamp,  Frank  X.  Helmer,  John  Ohnemus, 

Finance  Committee — Joseph  J.  Freiburg,  Fred  Wolf,  Jr., 
Jos.  VandenBoom,  Jr.,  L.  Weisenhorn,  Geo.  Timmerwilke 
(barber),  Hy.  Jansen,  W.  P.  Comeford,  John  B.  Glass,  B.  Schul- 
lian,  Jos.  Kiefer,  J.  Rummenie,  Hy.  Tholen,  M.  Reinert,  Wm.  C. 
Mast,  Henry  Moller,  Alfred  Kurz,  John  Sohm,  Geo.  Kohl,  Jos. 
Schwarte,  George  Hieintz,  Geo.  Timmerwilke  (grocer),  Dr.  J.  B. 
Buehner,  C.  N.  Terwische,  Will  Kurz. 

Ushers'  Committee — John  Otten,  Frank  Hummert,  Milton 
Braxmeier,  Carl  Stegeman,  Ben  Heuer,  Leo  Wiskirchen,  Rome 
Wiskirchen,  Will  Hellhake,  Carl  Rummenie,  Geo.  Seifert. 


Ground  Plan  of  St.  Boniface  School. 


k 

e 

°3 
or 

a  .S 


P    « 
0    2 


- 


'  •..   Francis  Solaiius   College, 
In  the  Time  of  Father  Schaeferineyer. 
Built  in  187O-1871. 


Further  Trophies  of  Father  Schaefermeyer 


St.  Mary's  Academy 
A*  Opened  in  1867  and  Enlarged  in  1869,   1872,   1877  and  1885. 


St.  Mary's  Hospital  of  I.on*  Ago 
Comer-Stone  Laid  by  Father  Schaefermeyer,  May  5th.   1867 


St.  Aloysius  Orphan   Home, 

The  Realization  of   Father  Schaefermeyvr's   Fondest   Hope. 
Erected    18HO.     Opened    1K«5. 


St.  Antonius  Church, 
Melrose  Township. 

Corner-stone  laid  by  Father  Schneferineyer  Aug.  15, 1869. 
Dedicated  by  Bishop  Baltes  June  13th,  1870. 


- 

- 
•- 

3 
- 
_ 


- 

ft 

0> 
X 
0 


"Old  Rook  Church." 
Erected   1867-1868.      Destroyed  by  Cyclone  in   19O2. 


Present  Frame  Church. 

Corner-stone  Laid  by  Father  Weis  March  3,    19O3. 
Dedicated  by  Bishop  Ryan  June  22,   19O3. 


St.  Joseph's  Negro  Church. 

Opened  in  the  old  School  Building  of  St.  Boniface,  on 
Seventh  and  Jersey  Streets,  formerly  a  Methodist  Church, 
Oct.  21st,  1877,  during  the  pastorate  of  Father  Janssen. 
Closed  Nov.  28th,  1889. 


ST.   BONIFACE   CONGREGATION  127 


A  Last  Word. 


Gentle  Reader!  In  venturing  upon  the  preparation -of  this  little 
Souvenir,  the  writer  was  fully  aware  of  the  fact  that  in  the  short 
space  of  time  alotted  to  him,  he  could  do  justice  neither  to  the 
subject  under  treatment  nor  to  the  occasion  which  calls  it  forth. 
This,  however,  he  can  truthfully  say,  that  he  has  spared  himself  no 
pains  to  do  his  very  hest,  and  now  that  his  arduous  task  is  coming 
to  a  close,  he  is  involuntarily  reminded  of  the  consoling  words  of 
the  poet  when  he  says: 

"Who  does  the  best  his  circumstance  allows, 
Does  well,  acts  nobly,  angels  could  no  more." 

The  writer  wishes  it  to  be  understood  above  all  things,  that  he 
has  undertaken  this  work  in  the  spirit  of  "charity  towards  all,  with 
malice  towards  none,"  and  hence  whatever  error  may  have  crept 
into  his  manuscript,  or  whatever  oversight  may  have  occurred,  must 
not  be  attributed  to  any  sinister  motive. 

In  looking  over  the  task  accomplished,  it  would  be  the  height 
of  ingratitude  not  to  acknowledge  the  valuable  assistance  received 
from  various  persons.,  which  is  all  the  more  appreciated  the  greater 
was  its  need.  In  making  his  preliminary  researches,  he  was  greatly 
aided  by  Mr.  Fred  Wolf,  Sr.,  and  still  more  by  Mr.  Edward 
Sohm,  who  not  only  put  his  prodigious  memory  at  his  disposal,  but 
also  went  through  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to  ferret  out  invaluable 
information;  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  the  courtesies  of  Mr. 
Botsford  of  the  Quincy  Herald  and  Mr.  Bornmann  of  the  Quincy 
Germania. 

In  the  preparation  of  his  manuscript,  the  writer  received  assist- 
ance not  only  from  a  number  of  little  secretaries  from  St.  Boniface 
School,  but  also  from  Father  Degenhardt  and  from  the  Sisters  of 
Notre  Dame,  as  well  as  from  Mr.  Will  Sohm,  who  was  also  a  valuable 
assistant  proof-reader. 

In  providing  the  numerous  illustrations  for  this  Souvenir  he 
was  aided  especially  by  the  faithful  sacristan  of  St.  Boniface,  Mr. 
George  Schmeing,  who  searched  in  every  nook  in  Quincy  for  the  neces- 
sary photographs;  to  the  brilliant  parish  artist,  Mr.  John  A.  Sohm, 
who  is  responsible  for  their  masterful  grouping;  and  to  Messrs. 
Anthony  and  Schenke  of  the  Quincy  Photo  Engraving  Co.,  who  spared 
themselves  no  pains  in  executing  his  designs.  There  are  two  pic- 
tures in  this  volume  that  are  of  special  interest,  namely  the  two  re- 
sidences of  Adam  Schmitt  that  are  reproduced  below  the  caption 
"Temporary  Chapels  of  Primitive  Days,"  and  for  these  the  writer 
is  indebted  to  Mr  .Leonard  Schmitt,  nephew  of  the  above,  who  sup- 
plied from  memory  the  details  for  the  drawings,  one  of  which  was 
made  by  the  Quincy  Photo  Engraving  Co.,  the  other  by  M>r.  Frank 
Welimann,  a  member  of  the  parish.  A  number  of  half-tones  were 
also  supplied  by  Father  Didacus,  O.  F.  M.,  Pastor  of  St.  Francis 
Church,  as  well  as  by  Mr.  Chris  Freiburg,  the  veteran  program  ex- 
pert, who  also  furnished  valuable  information  by  means  of  an  old 
scrap-book  which  he  faithfully  kept  for  years. 

Relative  to  the  make-up  of  this  volume,  the  writer  cannot  speak 
too  highly  of  the  firm  of  Jost  &  Kiefer  and  their  very  efficient  personnel, 
who  showed  him  the  greatest  courtesies,  laboring  in  season  and 
out  of  season,  leaving  aside  all  other  work  of  even  a  pressing  nature 
in  order  to  have  this  Souvenir  in  readiness  at  the  proper  time.  In 
the  bindery,  where  only  two  days  were  at  their  disposal,  they  were  as- 
sisted by  the  volunteer  services  of  the  following  young  ladies  of  the 
parish:  Miss  Frances  Ricker,  Miss  Elizabeth  Kuhlmann,  Miss  Josie 
Rummenie,  Miss  Ellen  Hellmer,  Miss  Florence  Heidemann,  Miss  Mary 
Brandt. 

To  all,  sincerest  thanks!  THE  AUTHOR. 


9  1922 

INDEX 


Title  Page  ...........................  ,  .............  1 

Dedication  ..............  ...........................  3 

Diamond  Jubilee  Celebration  : 

General  Program  ...............................  5 

Special  Program  (Oct.  13)  .....  ..................  6 

Special  Program  (Oct.  14)  .......................  7 

Historical  Sketch  : 

Preliminary  Events  .............................         9-10 

Activities  of  Father  Brickwedde  ..................       10-16 

Labors  of  Father  Kuenster  ...............  .  .......       16-20 

Era  of  Father  Schaefermeyer  .....................       20-31 

Father  Ostrop  ..................................       31-35 

Administration  of  Father  Janssen  .................       35-38 

Pastorate  of  Father  Bruener  .....................       38-49 

Regime  of  Father  Weis  ..........................       49-80 

Rectorship  of  Father  Degenhardt  .................       80-86 

Statistics  St.  Boniface  Congregation  ..................  87 

Priests  at  St.  Boniface  Church  ........................       88-89 

Biographical  Sketch  of  the  Pastors  ....................       90-94 

Sisters  of  Notre  Dame  at  St.  Boniface  .................  95 

Lay  Teachers  and  Organists  at  St.  Boniface  ...........  96 

Original  Members  of  St.  Boniface  ....................  97 

Roll  of  Honor  ........................  ................       98-99 

Priests  From  St.  Boniface  ............................  100-104 

Societies  of  St.  Boniface  ............  .................   105-107 

Volunteer  Organizations  ............................   108-109 

Parish  Records  of  1912: 

Baptisms    ......................................          110 

Burials   .............................  .  ..........  Ill 

Marriages    ..........................  ...........  Ill 

First  Communion  Classes  ........................  112 

Confirmation  Class  .............................    112-113 

Pupils  of  St.  Boniface  School  .........................  114-116 

Graduates  of  1912  ...................................          117 

In    Memoriam  .......................................          118 

Present  Membership  of  St.  Boniface  .................   119-124 

Diamond  Jubilee  Committees  .........................    125-1  26 

A    Last   Word  ......................................  127 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


SOUVENIR  OF  THE  DIAMOND  JUBILEE  QUINCY